Kick Off: 7.45pm
Bradford City 4 (G Jones 34, R Jones 37, Wells 62, 78)
Guiseley AFC 0
Pre-season friendly
Wednesday 1 August 2012
City carried on their fine pre-season form with a convincing victory over Blue Square Bet North side Guiseley in a hard-fought and competitive contest.
Guiseley, who have already enjoyed a victory over Huddersfield Town this pre-season, were clearly up for the match but City coped with everything the Lions could throw at them to eventually run out deserved winners.
The victory over Guiseley is City's fourth on the trot this pre-season and the four goals scored at Nethermoor take the Bantams' summer tally up an impressive seventeen strikes.
In their first friendly since returning from their week-long trip to Ireland, the Jones's of Gary and Ritchie gave City a two-goal cushion at the interval with strikes within three minutes of each other.
Nahki Wells then continued his own promising personal form this summer with his fourth and fifth goals of pre-season in the second period at Nethermoor.
The only downside on an otherwise pleasing evening for Phil Parkinson's men was the sight of Ricky Ravenhill limping off towards the end of the match.
The midfielder was the victim of a late Guiseley tackle and will now have to undergo a scan to determine the extent of a knee injury.
Playing in their new black and gold away strip, City brought an almost full strength squad for their match against the Lions. Only Andrew Davies (illness) and Garry Thompson (hamstring) missed out - it is hoped both might be back for Saturday's friendly against Bury, however.
As promised, Parkinson used that travelling party to name a strong line up against Guiseley, with summer signings Stephen Darby, Gary Jones, James Meredith and Rory McArdle all starting.
With Ravenhill partnering Gary Jones in central midfield before his injury, Ritchie Jones began the game on the right wing. James Hanson and Wells were placed together in attack from the start.
:MATCH UPDATES
Guiseley AFC 0 Bradford City 4FT:
A flowing move involving Baker, Hannah and Connell eventually sees City's number 17 fire narrowly wide of Drench's bottom corner with a low curling effort from just inside the area.84min:
. A curling low free-kick from Gary Jones is straight forward enough for Drench81min:
Parkinson rests Wells, Hanson and Reid for Alan Connell, Ross Hannah and second year apprentice Forrayah Bass.78min: SUB -
78min: GOAL! Guiseley AFC 0 Bradford City 4 - Wells adds to his personal tally for the night with a fierce drive from all of 25 yards that squirms under the dive of Drench and into the bottom corner.
Stephen Darby is taken off for Jack Mills. Former Bantams defender Mark Bower is brought on for another City boy, Ainge, at the same time.69min: SUBS -
Ravenhill, who is limping after an earlier challenge, comes off for Adam Baker. With Baker immediately starting his involvement in the game from the right flank, Atkinson will now play in central midfield alongside Gary Jones as a result.68min: SUB -
Wells nearly had another to his name when he races clear of Guiseley's backline but the angle is tight for the striker and his low effort is well kept out by Drench. The ball momentarily breaks free but Simon Ainge is on hand to stop Gary Jones from pouncing for an easy tap in.67min:
62min: GOAL! Guiseley AFC 0 Bradford City 3 - City increase their lead further just past the hour mark thanks to a bullet header from Wells. The Bermudian striker finds himself in enough space at the near post to connect with Ricky Ravenhill's curling cross and beat Drench with a forceful header, despite the home 'keeper getting a touch on it.
Duke produces a reflex save with his fingertips to turn over a fierce rising drive from half time home substitute Walshaw.59min:
Guiseley bring on former Grimsby Town midfielder Danny Boshell for Rhys Meynell.57min: SUB -
. Hanson forces Drench into a competent save down low to his right after the giant striker had connected with a downward header from Reid's in-swinging free-kick53min:
Guiseley restart the match.46min:
Will Atkinson has been brought on for Ritchie Jones on City's right flank. Guiseley have replaced Forrest and Boshell with James Walshaw and Wayne Brooksby.HT SUB -
HT: Guiseley AFC 0 Bradford City 2
37min: GOAL! Guiseley AFC 0 Bradford City 2 - City double their lead when Ritchie Jones finds space inside the area before managing to fire past Drench from just outside the six yard box via a deflection off a Guiseley defender.
Boshell curls a Guiseley free-kick from outside the area a yard or so wide of Duke's near post.36min:
34min: GOAL! Guiseley AFC 0 Bradford City 1 - City take the lead when Wells cuts the ball back into the path of the on-rushing Gary Jones, who side-foots past Drench from around ten yards out.
Action at both ends. Firstly Drench has to race clear of his area to just beat Wells to a searching Reid ball forward and deny the Bermudian a clear run on goal. With the hosts on the attack shortly afterwards, however, Rory McArdle then has to produce a vital block tackle to stop Rothery from firing for goal from close range seconds later.32min:
City suffer a brief scare when Danny Forrest's deflected drive whistles through a crowd of players before narrowly missing the far corner of Duke's goal. The Bantams 'keeper comfortably collects the resulting corner, however.30min:
: Oliver has to be alert to come across and put in a vital tackle to deny marauding Andy McWilliams the opportunity to fizz a danger ball across the six yard box. 29min
Wells races onto Hanson's flick forward but his attempted drive into the far corner lack the power and accuracy to trouble Drench and it instead trickles comfortably wide of his goal.24min:
City see penalty appeals waved away after Wells appears to tumble under the challenge of Danny Ellis inside the area. Gary Jones picks up the loose ball just outside the area but his shot on the turn is deflected over.18min:
: Nicky Boshell fires a yard or so over Matt Duke's bar after taking on a shot on goal from outside the area while under pressure from Ricky Ravenhill15min
Luke Oliver heads narrowly wide at the far post following Kyel Reid's floated free-kick into danger zone.7min:
: Nahki Wells runs into space off James Hanson's flick on but his half-volleyed strike for goal from around twenty yards out flies comfortably over Steve Drench's bar.1min
: The Bantams kick off the match.0min
GUISELEY AFC | BRADFORD CITY |
1. Steve Drench | 1. Matt Duke |
2. Jamie Clarke | 2. Stephen Darby |
3. Andy McWilliams | 3. James Meredith |
4. Rhys Meynell | 4. Ricky Ravenhill (c) |
5. Danny Ellis | 5. Rory McArdle |
6. Simon Ainge (c) | 6. Luke Oliver |
7. Danny Forrest | 7. Kyel Reid |
8. Andy Holdsworth | 8. Ritchie Jones |
9. Josh Wilson | 9. James Hanson |
10.Nicky Boshell | 10. Nahki Wells |
11. Gavin Rothery | 11. Gary Jones |
Substitutes: | Substitutes: |
12. James Walshaw for 10 (46) | 13. Jon McLaughlin |
14. Mark Bower for 6 (69) | 16. Will Atkinson for 8 (46) |
15. Danny Boshell for 4 (57) | 17. Alan Connell for 9 (78) |
16. Wayne Brooksby for 7 (46) | 18. Forrayah Bass for 7 (78) |
17. Chris Mason | 19. Adam Baker for 4 (68) |
18. Jacob Giles | 20. Jack Mills for 2 (69) |
19. Macaulay Parkinson | 21. Ross Hannah for 10 for (78) |