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