Port Vale 2-1 Bradford City

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1989263,00.html

Tuesday 9 March 2010
Coca-Cola League 2
Port Vale 2 (Richards 50, R Taylor 79)
Bradford City 1 (Threlfall 12)
Kick Off: 7.45pm
at Vale Park

Attendance: 3728 (272 visitors)

A stunning effort from Robert Taylor ensured the Bantams tasted defeat at Vale Park for the first time since 1989.

Taylor's dipping volley from just outside the Bantams penalty area fired the Valiants to a deserved victory and left Peter Taylor with his third loss as the Bantams boss.

The effort appeared to take a deflect on its way through to Glennon though, which may have deceived the Bantams stopper.

Bradford have a good record at Port Vale and have secured victories on their last four victories, but they never really looked like gaining such a result this evening against a strong Vale outfit despite taking the lead.

Liverpool loanee Robbie Threlfall produced another stunning set-piece to add to his growing collection as he beat home keeper Joe Anyon from 25 yards out to give City a half time interval.

That lead for Bradford had looked slightly fortunate as Marc Richards in particular missed a several of decent efforts for Port Vale in the first period.

Richards made up for his earlier misses as he handed the Valiants the perfect start to the second half when he tapped home from close range barely five minutes after the restart.

Vale continued to look the stronger side as the half progressed, but it needed Taylor's wonderful goal to seperate the two sides.

The Bantams battled gamely throughout though, but it did appear that maybe the recent consecutive away travels had caught up with them.

After their heroics at the Don Valley Stadium, Peter Taylor rewarded the same eleven players by naming an unchanged line up.

It was Vale who jumped out of the blocks quicker and could have taken the lead with an early chance.

Richards found himself behind Bantams backline onto a bouncing ball as Glennon advanced from his goal.

With Glennon stranded, the Vale striker lofted the ball over him only to see his effort just bounce wide of the post.

City survived that scare to take the lead minutes later through a wonderful strike.

A mazy Luke O'Brien run was halted illegally by Anthony Griffin about 25 yards from goal and from the resulting set-piece, Threlfall picked his spot to fire past Anyon and into the top corner.

The goal left the Bantams faithful buzzing, but Vale were still providing a threat going forward.

Richards was again guilty of missing a promising opening as Robert Taylor found him unmarked with a low pull back across goal.

The giant striker looked set to fire home, but somehow Glennon got across his goal to keep the effort from crossing the line.

Despite Richards lack of potency in front of goal, Vale still continued to be on the front foot for most of the first period.

Craig Davies and Richards went narrowingly close to testing Glennon in quick succession.

It wasn't all Vale though in the first period, as Michael Flynn headed at Anyon and Threlfall forced the Vale keeper to stretch for the full back's low drive.

While Vale finished the half the stronger, the Bantams defended stoutly to ensure they kept their slender lead intact at the half time break.

Omar Daley was introduced into the proceedings for Luke O'Brien, with Taylor perhaps hopeful that the pacey Jamaican could make the most of Vale Park's wide pitch.

City may have benefitted from Richards misses in the first period, but he was on hand to place Vale back on level terms with the second period barely five minutes old.

He was available to take Robert Taylor's low cross and slot home into an unguarded goal from barely yards out as Vale made the perfect start to the half.

After Richards goal, the match suffered a quiet period as both sides worked hard to cancel each other out.

It was becoming clearer as the match progressed that the next goal in the fixture could be the decisive one.

Vale remained the more likely scorers, but the Bantams were working hard to deny the home side openings.

Both sides made changes as time ticked away, including Mark McCammon's intoduction into the match for Gareth Evans.

Minutes after the subs, came the match crucial and ultimately decisive moment.

Robert Taylor picked up a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area before proceeding to fire goalwards on the volley.

The effort appeared to take a deflect which didn't help Glennon as the ball looped over his despairing dive and into the net.

Suddenly, the Bantams were thrust into action and forced to go on the attack.

For the remaining ten minutes or so of the match, the Bantams threw man forward in a desperate search for a late equaliser.

Michael Boulding brought on for Adam Bolder as Taylor looked to push the issue.

City ultimately could find anything to really test Anyon in the home goal as Vale hung with some comfort to register an earned victory.

Thanks for the report Bantam , it's important for me to keep up to date with the progress of all our teams. Now we need you to start winning some games and kick-on ready for next season . Promotion next season has to be the aim now the fanbase is firming up (albeit at cheaper and fairer rates).