Saturday 20 March 2010
Coca-Cola League 2
Hereford United 2 (Manset 33, Jervis 81)
Bradford City 0
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at Edgar Street
Attendance: 1926 (332 visitors)
City dished up a lacklustre and laboured performance at Hereford as they stumbled to defeat at a rain soaked Edgar Street.
On a wet and windy day, Bradford really struggled to get going for any great periods of the match and suffered a disappointing defeat loss as a consequence.
Chances did come and go for Peter Taylor's side, but none could be converted into goals and City paid the ultimate price for it.
Hereford edged an entertaining first period and deservedly took the lead when Mathieu Manset bundled home a header from close range.
City enjoyed more possession in the second period, but strangely offered less of a goal threat, as they tried in vain to find an equaliser.
As the half progressed, City looked less and less likely to prize open a disciplined home defence.
Hereford's victory was confirmed with time running out as Bulls sub Jake Jervis finished past Matt Glennon with aplomb.
Skipper for the day, Lee Bullock, also received his tenth booking of the season and will therefore miss the next two matches.
For City match with the Bulls, Taylor made three changes from the side that had defeated Aldershot seven days ago.
Injured Simon Ramsden was replaced by Jonathan Bateson, while the Bantams boss also decided to bring in Gareth Evans and Gavin Grant, who made his first start with Bradford as a result.
Though the match would end in defeat for Bradford, City actually made a bright start in the match and created two early openings.
James Hanson put a free header wide from the Bantams first corner of the match, while Grant was denied by the slightest of touches from Adam Bartlett as City countered from a Hereford free-kick.
Adam Bolder played the Bantams winger into space inside the area and in with a sight of goal, but the Hereford stopper did well to deflect the effort wide.
Bradford couldn't build on their bright start though and Hereford began to get on top.
Taylor's frustration because of this was evident as he became involved in a brief exchange of words with referee Mr McDermid by the Bantams dugout.
Although Hereford maintained a better hold and control of the ball for most of the half, chances were still coming at both ends in an open and entertaining opening period.
Darren Jones forced Glennon into a smart save from a diving header, while Bartlett produced an even better save from Evans moments later.
A Hanson flick on from Bateson's long throw found its way towards Evans, who instantly headed goalwards. The header was at point blank range but the Hereford stopper was up to the task as he produced a smart reaction save.
Hereford eventually took the lead when Mathieu Manset headed home from only yards out.
Marc Pugh's corner wasn't cleared properly by Bradford, allowing Ryan Valentine to head the ball back into the mix. The ball looped towards the back post, where Manset lurked to out-jump Luke Oliver and steer home with a close range header.
The goal seemed to stir City into life a bit, but they were unable to trouble Bartlett for the remainder of the first half.
The impressive Pugh nearly doubled the Bantams trouble at the start of the second period when he fired narrowly wide of Glennon's near post with the Bradford keeper rooted to the spot.
From nearly conceding, City should have equalised straight after when Hanson flicked the ball down into the path of Oliver.
Oliver's shot inside the area was blocked, before the rebound fell to the on-rushing Evans.
Evans took aim but went for power over placement and blasted over from close range.
With the second period still young, Taylor quickly looked for changes as he brought on Omar Daley and then Mark McCammon in quick succession.
Pugh continued to test Bateson on the Hereford left as he once again had the beating of the Bantams right back to set up Manset.
The Frenchman took aim from the edge of the six yard box, but Threlfall was on hand to head his effort away from danger.
Sub McCammon went as close as any Bradford player to scoring midway through the second period.
The on loan striker stooped to get his head to a Threlfall corner, only to see his effort whack the post.
Unfortunately for City, their goal threat seemed to disappear thereafter as Taylor's men struggled to find a way to break through the home defence.
Ryan Kendall was handed his first action for Bradford as a late sub in an attempt to change events in the Bantams favour.
It would be a sub for the home side though that would ultimately decide the match with a late strike.
Jake Jervis, who like Kendall was a league rookie on his first loan period, was brought on with time running out by Hereford and able wrap up all three points for the Bulls.
Jervis latched onto a long ball up field to find himself in behind the Bantams defence with only Glennon to beat.
As the Bantams stopper advanced forward, Jervis showed great composure to loop the ball over him and the seal the match in the process.
There was no way back for the Bantams after that, leaving them to suffer the disappointment of another away day defeat.
