Saturday 28 July 2012
npower League 2
Bray Wanderers 1 (Dooney 85)
Bradford City 2 (Wells 22, Hannah 62)
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at Carlisle Grounds
City finished off their week-long tour of Ireland with a hard-fought but deserved victory over League of Ireland Premier Division side Bray Wanderers.
A first half strike from Nahki Wells gave City the interval lead before second substitute Ross Hannah increased the Bantams' advantage just past the hour mark.
For Wells, it was his third goal in three matches so this pre-season, while Hannah has now gone one better with four in three thanks to his Bray second half strike.
Home right back Ryan Dooney pulled a goal back late on for Bray but City, who looked particularly bright in the second period, still secured the victory - their third straight win in pre-season so far.
Heavy rain showers and Bray's ability to bring on a number of fresh legs could have made the afternoon a challenging one at times for City, but the Bantams showed great commitment and composure on the ball run out worthy victors and make it two wins out of two for their Irish tour.
City in the second half in particular could have actually added to their lead, with James Hanson firing over on the volley from around six yard out and Hannah hitting the crossbar with a snap-shot on the turn from close range.
The returning Ritchie Jones, who missed Tuesday's Wexford Youths win with an ankle knock, also saw a decent one-on-one chance saved by Bray 'keeper Darren Quigley in the first period.
Fit-again Stephen Darby played the first fourty-five minutes of the friendly for his first action in City colours since joining this summer.
Along with Darby's appearance, Alan Connell was given his maiden start by Phil Parkinson as the Bantams boss, as promised, made a number of changes from the Wexford game.
Opening goalscorer Wells, Jon McLaughlin, James Meredith, Will Atkinson and Luke Oliver were also promoted up from the Wexford bench to complete City's line up at Carlisle Grounds.
Kyel Reid came off the bench to play the final half an hour or so but Andrew Davies was not risked, however, after picking up a bug in the last twenty-four hours.
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MATCH UPDATES:
FT: Bray Wanderers 1 Bradford City 2
85min: GOAL - Bray Wanderers 1 Bradford City 2 - Bray pull a goal back thanks to a fine finish from Dooney. The right back crests down a home throw-in before firing in a looping volley from just inside the area that drops over McLaughlin's despairing dive and into the top corner.
73min: Hannah fires an effort against the bar from close range after pouncing on a loose ball in Bray's six yard box. Both Hannah and Kerne contest a Reid near post cross, the ball pops up free but the City striker can only rattle the crossbar with a snap-shot on the turn.
73min: Hannah beats Kerne to a forward pass just inside Bray's own area but Ryan Dooney is in the right position to clear his lines after the striker had tried to shoot for goal from an extremely tight angle.
72min: SUBS - Forrayah Bass and Scott Donnelly are brought on for Meredith and Gary Jones.
71min: Hanson fires over on the volley from a promising position around the six yard box after Atkinson had headed Reid's far post centre back across goal.
62min: GOAL - Bray Wanderers 0 Bradford City 2 - City double their lead just past the hour mark when Hannah turns into space inside Bray's area before drilling an effort low into the far bottom corner.
60min: Reid jumps on a Hanson knock-down before bursting into Bray's area and firing a low angled drive a yard or so while of Kerne's far post.
59min: Brendan King forces a smart save out of McLaughlin at his near post with an angled drive from just outside City's penalty area.
57min: SUBS - City decided to bring on James Hanson, Kyel Reid and Ross Hannah for Wells, Baker and Connell.
47min: Connell fires narrowly over the top corner of Brian Kerne's goal after a shot on the turn from just inside the area.
46min: Bray restart the match after completing changing their playing eleven at the interval.
SUB - Ricky Ravenhill has been brought on for Darby at the break. Ritchie Jones will drop into the right back position as a result. The change is not surprising given Darby's lack of recent football.
HT: Bray Wanderers 0 Bradford City 1
41min: A shot from outside the area by Ritchie Jones is comfortably gathered by Quigley.
40min: City have a decent opportunity to double their lead when Adam Baker jumps on the ball following a slip by Tresson and drives into space. Baker races into the box and looks to play the ball across the area for the waiting Alan Connell but the attempted pass is slightly overhit and Bray's defence can eventually clear.
35min: Gary Jones cuts inside off City's left flank and skips past one attempted challenge before firing in a low shot which is well gathered by Quigley.
32min: Wells goes for goal direct from a free-kick from distance but his fierce drive is well wide of the target.
22min: GOAL - Bray Wanderers 0 Bradford City 1 - Wells continues his fine scoring run in pre-season by firing City into the lead at Carlisle Grounds. Atkinson plays the Bermudian into space inside Bray's area and the forward fires in past Quigley with a fierce effort on the angle. After scoring against Tadcaster and Wexford, Wells now has three in three this summer so far.
21min: SUB - Bray take off Dane Massey, who appears to have picked up a knock, and replace him with Colin Tresson.
17min: Ismail Akinade spins away from Rory McArdle around twenty yards from goal but his low shot at goal is easily gathered by Jon McLaughlin.
12min: Ritchie Jones drags a shot comfortably wide of Quigley's goal from outside the penalty area.
9min: City miss out on a fairly bright opening when Nahki Wells plays Ritchie Jones in behind Bray's defence after the pair had counter-attacked following a home corner. Jones found himself with only Darren Quigley to beat after eventually picking up Wells' through ball but his strike from just inside the area lacked power and the Bray 'keeper could save with his legs.
5min: Bray's Kevin O'Connor has the first shot of the match - a looping effort from outside the area - but it is comfortably over Jon McLaughlin's bar.
0min: The Bantams kick off the friendly.
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City's starting eleven
MCLAUGHLIN
DARBY MCARDLE OLIVER MEREDITH
ATKINSON G JONES R JONES BAKER
WELLS CONNELL
BRAY WANDERERS BRADFORD CITY
1. Darren Quigley 1. Jon McLaughlin
2. Shane O'Connor 2. Stephen Darby
3. Dane Massey 3. James Meredith
4. Danny O'Connor 4. Gary Jones
15. Adam Mitchell 5. Rory McArdle
6. Dean Zambra 6. Luke Oliver
7. Adam O'Hanlon 7. Will Atkinson
8. Kevin O'Connor 8. Ritchie Jones
9. Ismail Akinade 9. Alan Connell
10. Lee Dixon 10. Nahki Wells
11. Sean Houston 11. Adam Baker
Substitutes: Substitutes:
12. Colin Tresson for 3 (21) 13. Matt Duke
23. Brian Kerne for 1 (46) 14. James Hanson for 10 (57)
17 Jonanthan Kelty for 2 (46) 16. Ross Hannah for 9 (57)
18. John Mulroy for 15 (46) 17. Forrayah Bass for 3 (72)
19. Brendan King for 4 (46) 18. Ricky Ravenhill for 2 (46)
20. Graham Kelly for 12 (46) 19. Kyel Reid for 11 (57)
21. Conor Early for 6 (46) 20. Scott Donnelly for 4 (72)
22. Ryan Dooney for 7 (46)
23. Kevin Wright for 8 (46)
26. David Webster for 9 (46)
27. Pat Soery for 10 (46)
28. Dean Marshall for 11 (46)