YORK Schoolboys Under-15s let slip a 4-3 lead as they bowed out of the English Schools’ FA Inter-Association Trophy 6-4 at home to Bradford.
The Minster city boys made a flying start to the round two tie at Dringhouses Sports & Social Club, taking the lead after only two minutes.
Stand-in striker Lewis Ducy, replacing the injured Ben Hirst, saw his second-minute shot deflected into the path of fellow frontman Kris Fawcett, who rifled home from close range.
Ducy again went close before Bradford took a foothold in the game and equalised on 15 minutes.
York should have regained the lead when Joey McCormick headed a Rob Cooney corner wide from close range, but it was Bradford who forged ahead with a spot-kick after a foul in the box by Liam Neal.
McCormick hit a post towards the end of the half, but Bradford increased their lead to 3-1 at half-time with a second penalty after ’keeper Connor Stead tripped a striker.
York responded in the second period, with Sam Backhouse heading home a Cooney corner from close range two minutes after the restart.
Defender Niall Coulthard almost levelled with a header only to see his effort go wide of a post.
York got a deserved equaliser shortly afterwards when Fawcett linked up with full-back Luke Wilkinson to set up Ducy to fire home from 15 yards.
The visitors were shell shocked when York fired in a fourth, Cooney driving home a superb free-kick from 20 yards.
Bradford equalised against the run of play to set up a frenetic last 15 minutes.
Cooney again hit a post after good work from winger McCormick as York continued to press, but the visitors scored a breakaway goal to regain the lead.
As York pushed for a late equaliser, Bradford scored again on the counter attack to secure a remarkable win.
Ducy hit a 25-yard effort against the crossbar in the closing minutes.
Fawcett was the hosts’ man of the match, backed by strong second-half performances from wingers McCormick and Cooney, and striker Ducy
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