at Nethermoor
Kick Off: 3.00pm
Bradford City 3 (Clarkson 12, 43, Dolan 26)
Guiseley 0
Saturday 12 July 2014
Pictures kindly provided by Gary Chadwick
Three first half goals for City, including a double for forward Lewis Clarkson, helped the Bantams to a comfortable win in their opening pre-season friendly of the summer at Guiseley.
Clarkson opened the scoring for City twelve minutes in when he turned the ball home from around eight yards out after Jason Kennedy had hooked a far post cross back into the middle.
Clarkson’s opener came barely a minute after the young striker had threatened to score when he burst through clear on goal only to be denied by Guiseley ‘keeper Steve Drench diving out at his feet.
Dolan doubled the Bantams’ advantage just before the half hour mark when his direct free-kick from outside the area found the corner thanks in part to a deflection off the Guiseley wall.
Clarkson then grabbed his second and City’s third on the eve of the break when Kennedy again teed up the striker from a cross to give him the time and space to fire past Drench from close range.
Parkinson played a different eleven in each half for the maiden friendly of the summer at Guiseley, with the likes of Stephen Darby, Andrew Davies, James Meredith and James Hanson all involved in the first half.
Trialists Ben Alnwick, Angelo Balenta and Richard Bryan also featured in the opening period at Nethermoor.
Youth team member Sam Wright – who is set to travel with the senior squad to Ireland on Sunday – played alongside Kennedy, Balenta and Dolan in City’s first half midfield.
After using it in spells during the final few fixtures of last season, the Bantams once again lined up with a diamond-shaped midfield in both halves at Nethermoor.
Summer signings Alan Sheehan, Gary Liddle, Knott and Billy Clarke were all given a run-out in the second period, along with out-of-contract duo Jon McLaughlin and Raffaele De Vita.
Trialists Nick Arnold and Callum Ball also made up part of City’s eleven after the restart.
Although they failed to add to the scoring in the second period, Parkinson's men enjoyed almost total domination of the half as they worked their way through the friendly.
City chances after the break included Ball hitting the crossbar with a header from a Clarke cross, while Knott forced Drench to tip over after the midfielder had tried to send a delicate chip over the ‘keeper’s head from outside the box.
Mark Yeates, De Vita and Sheehan also had chances to score after the break as City cruised to a comfortable friendly victory.
Oliver McBurnie missed the game due to a knock picked up in training last week. Aaron Mclean wasn’t risked either because of a minor calf problem, while Matt Taylor missed out as well after
only returning to training this week following five months out with a foot problem.
Despite missing the Guiseley game, all three are expected to take part in the Ireland trip.
Guiseley – managed by City old boy Mark Bower - included former Bantams Jack Stockdill, Danny Forrest, Danny Ellis, Ben Parker and Kyle Harrison in their squad for the match.
CITY FIRST HALF XI
12. Ben Alnwick
2. Stephen Darby (c)
4. Matthew Dolan
5. Andrew Davies
6. Richard Bryan
7. Sam Wright
9. James Hanson
15. Lewis Clarkson
17. James Meredith
18. Jason Kennedy
19. Angelo Balenta
CITY SECOND HALF XI
1. Jon McLaughlin
3. Alan Sheehan
8. Gary Liddle
10. Billy Clarke
11. Raffaele De Vita
14. Mark Yeates
16. Billy Knott
20. Nick Arnold
21. Callum Ball
22. Rory McArdle (c)
23. Niall Heaton