Bradford City 1-2 Macclesfield Town

Monday 5 April 2010
Coca-Cola League 2
Bradford City 1 (Oliver 47)
Macclesfield Town 2 (Sinclair 40, Wright 61)
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at the Coral Windows Stadium

Attendance: 11,359 (159 visitors)

Peter Taylor's unbeaten run of games at Valley Parade came to an end in disappointing fashion at the hands of Macclesfield Town.

Missing several key players, a patched up City never reached top gear on a bobbly and difficult pitch as the visitors battled their way to victory.

A dour first period appeared to be drifting to a goalless conclusion until former City trainee Emile Sinclair nipped the ball off Zesh Rehman to finish past Matt Glennon and hand the Silkmen lead at the interval.

Clearly unhappy with his side's efforts during the first period, Taylor made two changes at half time and thrust Luke Oliver into attack in the process.

The move worked almost immediately as Oliver was on hand to slam the ball home after Gareth Evans cut the ball back from the byline.

At that point it appeared City may go onto the register the victory, but back came Macclesfield to retake the lead through Ben Wright's close range effort.

Taylor's last throw of the dice was to hand 18 year old apprentice Ryan Harrison his senior debut with time running out.

The visitors were able to hold on with relative ease, however, in the matches closing stages to send City crashing to a humbling defeat.

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Lineups:

Bradford City:
40 Matt Glennon
3 Luke O'Brien
5 Zesh Rehman
8 Lee Bullock
9 Gareth Evans
12 Steve Williams
15 Ryan Kendall
25 Steven O'Leary
28 Robbie Threlfall
32 Luke Oliver
33 Adam Bolder
Substitutes:
13 Jon McLaughlin
16 Jonathan Bateson for 15 (46)
19 James O'Brien
20 Leon Osborne
24 Louis Horne
31 Gavin Grant for 3 (46)
35 Ryan Harrison for 8 (71)

Macclesfield Town:
1 Jon Brain
4 Sean Hessey
5 Nathaniel Brown
6 Paul Morgan
7 Lee Bell
9 Emile Sinclair
11 Ben Wright
15 Paul Bolland
16 Shaun Brisley
19 Matthew Lowe
24 Vinny Mukendi
Substitutes:
13 Jose Veiga
2 Izak Reid for 15 (73)
12 Kyle Wilson
14 John Rooney
23 Matthew Tipton for 9 (86)
25 Michael Thomas
28 Craig Linfield

0min: The Bantams, who will attack the T.L Dallas Stand in the first period, kick off and get us underway.

City have started with a standard 4-4-2 formation, with Steven O'Leary out on the right wing and Gareth Evans joining Ryan Kendall in attack.

It has been a slow and scrappy start to the match by both sides. The only glimmer of a goal threat so far from either team has come from a couple of Matthew Lowe long throw ins.

15min: The Bantams win the first corner of the match from which Steve Williams nearly scores. Robbie Threlfall's delivery is right on the money, meaning Jon Brain has to be alert to keep out Williams unchallenged downward header with his legs.

19min: Glennon is forced into a low save to his left to deny Vinny Mukendi after the young Macclesfield striker had turned into space inside the penalty area.

The match is struggling to get going as a contest with goalscoring chances being at a premium at present.

27min: A smart move by City sees Lee Bullock stroke the ball right across the six yard box with only Brain as the Maccs last line of defence. Unfortunately, no Bantam can get onto the inviting centre and the grateful Brain is able to gobble up the bouncing ball.

31min: Nathanial Brown is able to get a flick onto one of Lowe's long throw ins, but the effort is food and drink to Glennon, who gathers easily.

33min: Luke Oliver manages to race back and block Ben Wright's attempted shot just as it appeared the big striker had got behind the Bantams backline.

40min: GOAL - Bradford City 0 Macclesfield Town 1 - Just as it appears that the match would drift to half time goalless, the visitors score. Emile Sinclair is on hand to charge down Zesh Rehman's attempted clearance before racing past the Bantams skipper and finishing beyond Glennon with an angled drive.

45min: Evans fires a bobbling effort straight at Brain.

HT: Bradford City 0 Macclesfield Town 1 - The Bantams leave the field for half time trailing thanks to Sinclair's strike.

In a poor first period, City have struggled to threaten Macclesfield's backline line often enough to warrant a goal.

The visitors haven't looked much better in truth, but they find themselves in the lead thanks to Sinclair's endeavour.

City look devoid of ideas at present and it wouldn't be surprising to see changes being made sooner rather than later if things continue into the second period.

46min: Macclesfield kick off the second period.

46min: As predicted, changes have been made at half time. Jonathan Bateson and Gavin Grant are on to replace Luke O'Brien and Kendall. Also, as per Bournemouth, Zesh Rehman will move to centre back to allow Luke Oliver to go up front and add some physical presence to the Bantams attack.

47min: GOAL! Bradford City 1 Macclesfield Town 1 - Its works! The Bantams get back on level terms as Luke Oliver scores within minutes of being placed in attack. Evans pull back by the byline is missed by the on-rushing Grant, but Oliver collects the ball and can't miss as he slams the ball into the net.

50min: The Bantams have certainly improved after Peter Taylor's half time tinking. Adam Bolder attempts to put Bradford ahead, but can only send his rising shot over the bar.

55min: Rehman is the next to try his luck as he heads Threlfall's corner just wide.

61min: GOAL - Bradford City 1 Macclesfield Town 2 - A big blow for the Bantams as the Silkmen retake the lead. Shaun Brisley digs out a teasing near post cross which Ben Wright converts pass Glennon from close range.

62min: Evans tries to respond for Bradford straight away, but his shot rises across the goal and away.

Evans has now been moved to right wing, with Grant now partnering Oliver up front.

64min: Mukendi heads harmlessly over from a promising attack.

The wind seems to be have been taken out of the Bantams sails by Macclesfield second goal. Taylor's men will need to go ahead if they wish to grab anything from the match.

71min: A massive moment for one young man as apprentice Ryan Harrison makes his senior debut in place of Lee Bullock.

73min: Macclesfield are going to make a substitution of their own as City old boy Paul Bolland makes way for Izak Reid.

81min: Bolder finds himself on the end of a promising City breakout, but is crowded out at the crucial moment and can't get a shot on goal.

86min: Macclesfield's first goalscorer Sinclair is replaced by Matthew Tipton.

Time is running out for Bradford and they don't look like getting anything from the fixture at present.

88min: Threlfall is booked for pulling Mukendi back on the half way line.

90min: City force a late corner, but Oliver can only tamely head wide.

90 + 2min: City gain another corner, as it is cleared to the edge of the penalty area, O'Leary volleys well over the bar.

FT: Bradford City 1 Macclesfield Town 2

Unlucky mate. Give the new man time it'll come together eventually.