ShrewsTRUST Man of the Match
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Bradford City: Simon Eastwood, Luke O'Brien, Michael Flynn, Zesh Rehman, Matthew Clarke, Lee Bullock (James O'Brien 79), Gareth Evans, Jonathan Bateson, James Hanson, Scott Nielson (Steve Williams 46), Simon WhaleySubs: Jon McLaughlin, Omar Daley, Chris Brandon, Steve Williams, Rory Boulding, James O'Brien, Louis Horne
Town: David Button, Dean Holden, Graham Coughlan (c), Terry Dunfield, Craig Disley, Kelvin Langmead, Dave Hibbert, Steve Leslie, Lewis Neal, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Kevin McIntyre
Subs: Chris Neal, Omer Riza, Kris Bright, Paul Murray, Harry Hooman, Will Richards, Jon Taylor
Goals: Dunfield, McIntyre (p), Hibbert
Ref: P Quinn
Assistants: B Gordon & G Hart
Fourth Official: C Akers
Attendance: 11,522 (277)
Paul Simpson makes two changes to his side as they look to get a result at cold Valley Parade.In come Terry Dunfield and Steve Leslie to replace Waide Fairhurst who is injured and Paul Murray who drops to the bench.
The home side started brightly and had the first good sight of goal when Scot Nielson found space behind the Town defence, he looked to get the shot in on the angle but Shane Cansdell-Sherriff slide in to get in an all important block at the cost of a corner.
Town had to weather some early pressure when on 6 minutes Simon Whaley drove in a long effort, it took a deflection and looped up over Button and hit the bar, it came out with Bateson waiting to head home but Holden was across to9 head clear.Then moments later Bradford should have taken the lead when Gareth Evans got in behind Langmead to get in on goal, he only had Button to beat but his shot was weak and the Town keeper was down to collect.
Town kept going and when they had the chance they took the game to Bradford, and on 9 minutes this paid off.Town attacked and got a good delivery into the box but Clarke was there to head clear, but only as far as Terry Dunfield who hit a superb shot on the half volley that rocketed into the top corner of the net.
Town were buoyed by the goal and were really taking the game to the home side.They were pressing the Bradford goal with Leslie and Neil making the space down the wings.There was a great chance after some good pressure with the ball coming to Disley, he found space out on the right and curled in a great ball behind Clarke but Hibbert and Leslie couldn't connected at the back post.
Bradford equaliser with their first attack in 15 minutes and came away with a fortunate goal.The home side broke and the ball was played towards Evans, Langmead slipped and this allowed Evans to cut in towards goal and then roll the ball across the goal to set-up Hanson who stabbed the ball home to make it 1-1.
The last 20 minutes of the half was a more level affair with both sides looking to take the advantage.There were chances at both ends of the pitch but neither side could beat the opposition keeper.
Town were still pushing with the half-time break fast approaching and good work from Leslie saw him receive the ball and hold it up well, he then pushed it out with to Neil who nicked the ball past him marker and curled in a great ball into the box but Holden just couldn't get to the ball.
With just a minute on the clock Town regained the lead following some good work from Leslie, he did well to get onto the end of a Hibbert flick to find space in the box, he had Clarke to his back and the Bradford defender clipped him and ref Quinn had no hesitation in pointing to the spot with Clarke picking up a yellow card for his troubles.Kevin McIntyre placed the ball and coolly stroked the ball past Eastwood to give Town the lead again.
Then with moments left of the clock Bradford were reduced to 10 men, the ball was hooked out of defence in behind for Hibbert to run onto, he got in behind Clarke and was odds on to get the ball but Clarke clipped Hibbert's heals to send him flying.Clarke was the last man and once again Ref Quinn had no hesitation with his decision and produced a send yellow card for the Bradford player.
Half-time: 2-1
Ref Quinn was the focus of the home fans anger from the first whistle with a chorus of boos aimed at the ref whenever he got near the action.
Bradford were down to 10 men but they were looking to get back on level terms and Town's defence needed to be alert.Bradford had a couple of early sights of the Town goal but Holden and Cansdell-Sherriff both were alert and got in some important blocks.
It was the home side who were having the better of the early sights of goal.Holden gave away a soft free-kick near to the corner flag, a dangerous ball was whipped in but Langmead was there to stoop in and head clear before the Bradford attack could pounce.
David Button had been having a commanding game against the Bradford attacks but he was also alert when they chanced their luck.Button had to be alert though when the ball came to Whaley some 30 yards out, he hit a vicious low drive over the freezing pitch but Button was equal to it and pulled off a great diving save.
Town were beginning to look more of an attacking side as the second half wore on.With Bradford pushing this was leaving space and Town were looking to hit the home side on the break.They had a couple of great breaks where an early ball may have been the better option but Town kept their patience and kept pushing.
Town's patience paid off on 78 minutes when the visitors drove forward on the break, Steve Leslie played the ball to put in Lewis Neil behind the Bradford defence, he put in a low shot but Eastwood was down to bloke but Hibbert was following up and coolly put the ball home to make it 3-1 to Town.
Full-time: 3-1
