THE Young Brewers were left disappointed as Bradford City Under-18’s earned a 3-1 victory in the EFL Youth Alliance League, despite Jack Bromfield's late strike.
After an end to end start to the game, two first-half goals from Bradford helped lead them to a comfortable win at St. George’s Park on Friday afternoon.
Bradford City started the better of the two sides, with some neat touches in the midfield controlling the tempo of the play – making the young Brewers work for every last ball.
Nathan Morley came close with a stinging shot from 18 yards out, forcing the Bantams keeper into a fine save low down to his right.
The away side eventually took the lead midway through the first-half as the pacy number seven expertly cut-in-side and fired home into the bottom-right-hand corner with his left-foot.
The Young Brewers then had their best chance of the half as Kyle Clamp’s effort from the edge of the box yet again tested Bradford’s keeper. He was up to the challenge and able to keep the striker at bay.
The Bantams doubled their advantage just before the half-time whistle as the number 10’s curling effort went in off the post after Burton failed to close down on the edge of their own penalty-box.
They could have made it three, but the woodwork saved the Young Brewers as the scorer of Bradford’s second smacked the crossbar just minutes after he’d put his side two-nil up.
James Melhado’s powerful free-kick forced another strong save from Bradford’s keeper at the start of the second period, as Burton began to grow into the tie.
However, soon after, Bradford’s number 10 made it three after some skilful wing-play once again from number seven. A hammer blow to the young Brewers side who had started the second-half on the front foot.
Clamp then headed over before Tom Hewlett’s cross found fellow substitute Jack Bromfield who could tap home, although a consolation – a well worked move from the Young Brewers.
The Young Brewers are next in action at Fleetwood on the 6th of October.