Bradford City 2-1 Aldershot Town

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1993413,00.html

Saturday 13 March 2010
Coca-Cola League 2
Bradford City 2 (Hanson 14, Daley 22)
Aldershot Town 1 (Straker 8 )
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at the Coral Windows Stadium

Attendance: 11,272 (221 visitors)

So the consistent inconsistency continues.

For the second week on the trot, the Bantams followed up a midweek defeat with a welcome win four days later.

While this victory may not have matched the efforts at the Don Valley for drama, it was certainly just as important.

Should City just be able to string such victories together, then the Bantams season may not be so done and dusted as many are predicting.

For the visit of Aldershot, Peter Taylor made two changes from the side that fell to defeat at Vale Park last Tuesday.

Taylor handed Luke Oliver his first action in Bradford colours, while Omar Daley was promoted from the bench for his first start under the new Bantams boss.

It would be the Jamaican fierce thunderbolt that would ultimately decide this hard fought contest as the Bantams recovered from the blow of losing an early goal.

That early goal by Aldershot came from the boot of Anthony Straker to cap a promising start by the Shots.

Straker placed the Hampshire side into the lead when he was first to a loose ball in the box. Matt Glennon could only parry a Scott Donnelly shot and the Aldershot winger managed to beat debutant Oliver to react first and slide home from close range.

To the Bantams credit, they responsed almost immediately to put Aldershot on the back foot.

Daley had already tested Venezuelan keeper Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz with an angled shot, before Hanson struck.

Michael Flynn wrestled hold of possession out on the right flank and managed to dig out a pin point cross for the unmarked Hanson head past a motionless Jaimez-Ruiz.

Bradford weren't finished there and were ahead less than ten minutes later.

Luke O'Brien's cross was deflected into the path of Daley on the edge of the area. The Jamaican quickly shifted the ball onto his left foot before unleashing a rasping drive past the Shots stopper's despairing dive and into the far corner.

After their slow start, the Bantams were now well and truly in the match.

The remainder of the half was largely evenly poised and although Glennon was forced into a good reflex save from Anthony Charles, City hung onto their advantage up until the interval.

Before the second half had even begun though, Taylor was dealt a blow.

Simon Ramsden failed to emerge for the second half after tweaking his calf towards the end of the first period.

Early diagonsis is quite positive however and hopefully Ramsden may only miss one match at the most due to the injury.

Jonathan Bateson replaced Ramsden at right back and Lee Bullock took over the skipper's armband.

Aldershot started the second period positively and placed the Bantams on the back foot.

As with the first half, the Bantams recovered though and had a promising opening when Daley sprinted away.

On the counter-attack, Daley bursted away from Aldershot's last man Chris Blackburn on the half way line.

As the Bantams winger burst into the box, Blackburn managed to recover as the Aldershot defender bundled Daley over and successfully won the ball.

While the challenge didn't appear to be too robust, the Jamaican certainly didn't deserve the yellow card for diving that followed.

The booking would be Daley's last involvement in the match as he was replaced by Gavin Grant to hand the winger his first action at Valley Parade.

Grant was involved straight away when he appeared to be pulled down in the box by Ben Herd. The Bantams winger howled his displeasure as play was waved on, but his emotions would soon turn to relief as the Bantams benefited from a major miss moments later.

Shortly after Grant's arrival, Aldershot had brought on their top scorer Marvin Morgan to try and change the match.

Morgan nearly did just that as his cross found fellow sub Marlon Jackson unmarked at the far post with the goal gaping.

Incredibly and to the relief of the majority inside the Coral Windows Stadium, Jackson amazingly sent his diving header across goal and wide.

Quickly off the back of Jackson's amazing miss, Grant had the opportunity to mark his debut with a goal.

The Bantams winger rode Blackburn's challenge on the touchline and strode into Aldershot's area. As he came within in sight of goal though, Grant could only hit straight at Jaimez-Ruiz with weak angled shot.

As the final ten minutes or so ticked down, the Bantams retreated further and further back in an effort to see out the fixture.

Aldershot, who had been a strong presence throughout the second half, were now forcing the Bradford backline into some nervy moments as the ball bobbled around City's penalty area.

For all their dominance of possession in the closing moments of the match, City defence stood strong though and left Glennon with little to do.

The four minutes of added time were successfully negotiated before the relived Bantams could be allowed to celebrate the win.

Good report fella, pleased things are picking up for you.

Nice report, come on City! Hereford tomorrow, hopefully we can kick on and maybe sneak the play-offs?