Bradford Park Avenue boss John Deacey was delighted with his squad’s performance against neighbours City as they held onto the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy with a 3-1 victory at Horsfall Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The two clubs play annually for the trophy and Avenue were holders after a 3-2 victory at Valley Parade the previous pre-season.

The supporters may enjoy bragging right but for Park Avenue it is all about maintaining good relations.

Even so, Deacey was being honest rather than merely toeing the party line when he said: “It was an entertaining game and I thought both sides played some very good football.

“It was a pretty open game and both sides could have scored more goals. All the strikes were top quality as well.

“It was an experimental City side but not one packed with 18-year-olds. There was a lot of experience in their team.

“I’ve got to be pleased with it and I think Phil Park-inson should be pleased as well.

“But it’s only pre-season and I’m not reading anything into it, I’m just glad we’re on schedule to be where we want to be when our league starts next Saturday and I’m sure City’s people are with theirs.”

Avenue’s manager has been trimming his squad still further this week but he feels he has arrived at the right conclusions.

He still has his son Jordan at the moment and is waiting for Ross Daly to return following an operation on his hip during the summer recess.

Deacey added: “Another Football League club has come in to ask about Jordan so I’m not sure how long he will be with us but we have had to formulate a squad within the budget the board have set us, so we have 18 players.

“That will be plus Ross when he comes back. He is three weeks away at the moment but we expect him to be back in training by the end of August which is great news for us.

“Ross did really well last season and he is looking forward to trying his luck in the Conference North.

“Ross is a great lad and a very good footballer and we’ll have a better squad with him back in it.

“But I have let Simon Baldry go. He is great lad and a superb professional but, in his mid-thirties, he needs to be playing football and he would have been just a squad member with us so, to be fair to everyone, we made the decision.”