HAMZA Bencherif might not have scored in 65 competitive games for York City but he opened his pre-season account against League One Bradford.

The 6ft 3in centre back grabbed the only goal of the game against the Bantams just past the hour mark to cap a solid display by the Minstermen.

Earlier, an even opening saw Jordan Gibson drag well wide from 30 yards for the visitors, while Simon Heslop’s edge-of-the-box half-volley at the other end dipped over Richard O’Donnell’s crossbar.

Moments later, Sherwin Seedorf – the nephew of Holland legend Clarence – cut in from the left wing before sending a deflected shot across the face of Adam Bartlett's goal.

Bartlett went on to made the game’s first save on 38 minutes, reacting well to push over a blasted Seedorf drive after the on-loan Wolves attacker had raced on to Hope Akpan’s through ball.

On the stroke of half-time, Jordan Burrow then rose high to meet Sean Newton’s corner, with the ball bouncing back off the bar after hitting Daniel Devine on the head and Penn’s hopeful long-range attempt was also deflected away from goal.

The hosts also started the second half positively with sub Josh Law curling a 25-yard free kick over after Jake Wright had been hacked down, before Bencherif broke the deadlock on 61 minutes.

Bradford failed to deal with Law’s corner and the former Algerian under-20 international beat sub keeper Theo Richardson with a ten-yard half-volley.

Bencherif went on to head over from Russ Penn’s right-wing cross on 84 minutes, but Bradford failed to muster a single second-half shot - either on or off target. 

City: Bartlett (Whitley, 61); Griffiths (Law, 46), Bencherif, Newton, Ferguson; York (Steels, 75), Penn, Heslop, Moke (Kempster, 46); Burrow (Parkin, 60), Wright (Langstaff, 60, Thompson 82). Subs: Whitley, Shepherd.

Bradford: O’Donnell (Richardson, 46); Devine (Staunton, 80), O’Connor (Isherwood, 67), Kilgallon (Knight-Percival, 54), Chicksen (Wood, 67); Wright (Powell, 67), Trialist (Peters, 67), Akpan (Bruneker, 61); Hudson (Trialist C, 56), Gibson (Patrick, 54), Seedorf (Gunner, 61). Subs: Hefele.

Attendance: 818