Tuesday 26 August 2008
Central League East
Bradford City 7 (Conlon 5, 18, 50, 60, 64, R Boulding 21, 63)
Grimsby Town 1 (Bore 16)
Kick Off: 7.00pm
at the Coral Windows Stadium

A flurry of goals opened Bradford City's home season in the Central League when they faced Grimsby Town at the Coral Windows Stadium.

The visitors fielded a young side due to their seniors being in Carling Cup action on Wednesday, while City had Brazilian trialist Italo Maciel, released by Icelandic side IBV Iprottafelag playing in midfield with a host of senior players.

It was with one of City's first attacks of the game in the fifth minute that the rout started when following a long ball by Mark Bower, the ball was flicked on by Barry Conlon wide to Leon Osborne who raced into the box and pulled the ball back to Conlon to slot the ball home.

Maciel almost made it two five minutes later when he headed wide after Rory Boulding crossed from the left.

Grimsby levelled matters in the 16th minute when Peter Bore received the ball with his back to goal. Simon Ainge raced in to challenge and the ball broke and Bore found himself one on one with McLaughlin to slip it under the advancing keeper.

City were back in front two minutes later when Boulding received the ball on the edge of the area, turning and shot at Leigh Overton. The Town keeper saved well but the ball went loose and Conlon was on hand to tap the ball home.

Number three came in the 21st minute when Luke O'Brien crossed from the left after an over-lapping run. A Grimsby defender cleared but the ball broke to Boulding who smashed the ball into the back of the net.

Conlon almost had his hat-trick in the 35th minute when a long ball from Bower saw Kyle Nix clear down the left. Just keeping the ball in play Nix crossed and with Conlon unmarked he shot at the keeper who just kept hold of the ball.

Two minutes before the break, the Mariners were unlucky when Kiel Thompson worked a good opening down the left and his cross fell invitingly to Jamie Steele but his shot rippled the side netting with all the goal to aim at.

The goals continued to come City's way in the second half and it was Conlon who made it 4-1 five minutes after the restart, a Nix cross allowing him to header home.

A fine run from O'Brien started the route for City's fifth, running from the halfway line, he beat a couple of players and played in Luke Sharry on the left who crossed to Conlon who headed in at the back post.

The visitors were now thoroughly demoralised by the rampant Bantams who made it six in the 63rd minute, this time Rory Boulding scoring his second goal with a half volley just inside the area.

City were seven up a minute later when Conlon was played in from just inside the area. He created a yard of space and slotted home beyond Overton.

Defender TJ Moncur almost got in on the act in the 80th minute. The ball broke free to him after Overton punched it clear from a corner. Moncur's shot from 25-yards out was clawed clear at the last second as it was heading towards to top corner of the net.

By now Overton had seen enough of Conlon and with seven minutes remaining, was grateful to see his diving header go just wide.

BRADFORD CITY	GRIMSBY TOWN
1 Jon McLaughlin	1 Leigh Overton
2 Thomas Moncur	2 Grant Normington
3 Luke O'Brien	3 Craig Parker
4 Luke Sharry	4 Jamie Steele
5 Simon Ainge	5 Mark Gray
6 Mark Bower	6 Matthew Bird
7 Leon Osborne	7 Liam Davis
8 Italo Maciel	8 Drew Rhodes
9 Barry Conlon	9 Danny North
10 Rory Boulding	10 Peter Bore
11 Kyle Nix	11 Kiel Thompson
Substitutes:	Substitutes:
12 Luke Dean for 7	12 Danny Freeman for 11
13 Matthew Convey	13 Bradley Wood
14 Adrian Bellamy	14 Sam Woods for 2
15 Rory Carson	15 Nathan Dixon for 4
16 Kelvin Bleau for 11	16 Josh Fuller

MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee:	R Joyce
Assistant Referee:	E Kaye
Assistant Referee:	B Toner
4th Official:	M D Parker

GOALSCORERS:
BRADFORD CITY	GRIMSBY TOWN
Conlon (5) (18) (50) (60) (64)	Bore (16)
R Boulding (21) (63)