BRADFORD CITY AFC

Nicky Law proved to be City's match-winner, the Bantams' number four popping up midway into the second period to power home a header from Filipe Morais' cross.

The goal was no more than Law deserved after an eye-catching and energetic display from the midfielder in his first appearance in this season's competition.

In a first period of limited scoring chances, Cambridge arguably had the better of the chances. 

Visiting striker Ben Williamson fired into the side-netting from inside the box while team-mate George Maris tested Rouven Sattelmaier on a couple of occasions, one shot in particular forcing the German into a smart stop.

At the other end, the industrious Mark Marshall went closest for the Bantams with a deflected effort early into the game and a shot on the turn from the edge of the box five minutes before the interval.

As City raised their tempo following the restart, Haris Vuckic and Marshall threatened early in the second period for Stuart McCall's men.

Sattelmaier was required to produce a decent reaction save with his legs to deny Williamson on the hour mark but the Bantams made the vital breakthrough just four minutes later.

From Morais' testing cross towards the near post, Law found himself in just enough space and he managed to crash home a header into the far corner past Cambridge shot-stopper Will Norris. 

The goal came barely sixty seconds after Law had been moved into the 'number ten' role to support Jordy Hiwula in attack.

Tony McMahon, who made a successful return from injury following his first half introduction, enjoyed two efforts for goal later in the half as he got forward on a number occasions in the second period.

The right back was also involved in a neat one-two with Marshall towards the end of the game as the Bantams winger fired wide from the edge of the box.

Cambridge sub Uche Ikpeazu had a sight of goal for the visitors with just a minute or so of normal time remaining but his angled drive was deflected over after he'd turned into space inside the box.

90min: There will be three minutes of time added on at the end of the match.

89min: Ikpeazu turns into shooting space from an angle inside City's penalty area before firing in a rising drive that takes a touch off a City player on its way over.

88min: Marshall plays a one-two with McMahon before firing in a left-footed drive from the edge of the box that flashes wide of the target.

85min: Marshall's cross into the box is flicked on by Hiwula. Dallison goes to clear but the ball heads in the direction of Law deep inside the area. Unfortunately for Law though, Dallison's clearance has too much pace on it and the ball hits off the City player before he can look to control it and bounces out for a goal-kick.

84min: YELLOW CARD - McMahon is booked for a forceful challenge on Ikpeazu roughly twenty-five yards from City's goal. McArdle heads clear from Clark's resulting free-kick into the box.

83min: Law appeals for a spot-kick after going down in the box following Dallison's challenge as latching onto Hiwula's forward pass. Referee Mr Lewis is well-placed to see the incident and allows play to continue.

81min: McMahon moves to the edge of the box with the ball at his feet but his cross-come-shot sails over the bar and into the Kop stand behind Norris' goal.

74min: YELLOW CARD - Nathan Clarke is booked for catching Ikpeazu with a late tackle just inside City's half of the pitch.

71min: Law plays the ball into the path of the on-rushing McMahon and the right-back's low drive from the edge of the box bounces narrowly wide of the far post.

67min: Berry tries his luck from distance direct from a free-kick but the low curling effort bounces comfortably wide of Sattelmaier's goal.

64min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Josh Cullen for Vuckic. It seems Law will support Hiwula in attack now following Vuckic's departure.

63min: Davies' teasing cross into the middle is kept alive by Adams over by the far byline. Adams' hook back into the mix finds Williamson but the striker's shot for goal is deflected away.

61min: Vuckic tees up Law for a shooting chance just outside the area but the midfielder's side-footed effort for goal is blocked by the diving frame of Dallison.

60min: Davies plays Williamson into shooting space inside the Bantams box. Williamson's low drive for goal is repelled by the outstretched Sattelmaier before Davies slices well wide with a first time effort on the rebound.

56min: SUBS - Cambridge bring on Uche Ikpeazu and Luke Berry for Mingoia and Maris respectively.

54min: A driving run from inside his own half by Devine eventually sees the substitute midfielder tee up Marshall in Cambridge's penalty area. Marshall fires for goal but his low angled drive is held by Norris via a save to his left.

50min: Marshall drives the ball low across the box from the byline, the delivery just evades the control of Hiwula and Dunk is able to clear over by the far side.

46min: A neat pass from Hiwula after a driving run from the striker finds Vuckic in space inside the box and the Slovenian attacker fires a low drive into the side-netting narrowly past Norris' near post.

HT SUB - The Bantams bring on Daniel Devine for Timothee Dieng just before the start of the second period.

45min: There will be two minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.

45min: Law's corner kick is deliberately left by McArdle but no-one behind him in claret and amber is able to latch onto the delivery, with the ball eventually going out of the box over by the far side.

44min: Clark tries his luck from distance but the effort is repelled by Sattelmaier.

43min: Max Clark's ball from deep into City's penalty area is headed out by Nathan Clarke but Maris is lurking and the Cambridge midfielder fires for goal with a forceful drive from just outside the box that has to be pushed behind by Sattelmaier.

40min: Receiving a Law pass with his back to goal, Marshall turns forwards before firing in a powerful low drive from just outside the box that is stopped by Norris.

37min: Morais' resulting corner kick is headed out as far as Marshall, who fires comfortably over the bar with a strike from just outside the box.

37min: Marshall drives forward down City's left flank with menace, eventually firing the ball low into the six yard box with a cross that is cleared behind by Dallison as Hiwula lurked behind him looking for a potential tap-in.

35min: Piero Mingoia's cross into the box finds Maris in the box but the midfielder's shot on the turn is straight at Sattelmaier and comfortably held by the German.

30min: Legge looks for a second to have a sight of goal after being played into space inside the box by Dunne. A recovering Rory McArdle tackles the ball against the Cambridge defender, however, as he goes to control. The ball bounces off Legge via McArdle's tackle and drops wide of Sattelmaier's net for a goal-kick.

28min: Ben Williamson latches onto a loose ball inside City's penalty area and the striker's left-footed drive finds the side-netting by Sattelmaier's near post as Nathan Clarke dived across his path.

25min: The ball breaks free to James Dunne outside the area but the midfielder's low drive rolls wide of Sattelmaier's goal.

25min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Tony McMahon for Stephen Darby. McMahon also receives the captain's armband off his fellow right back as he replaces Darby.

20min: SUB - Long is unable to continue, with Cambridge replacing him with Leon Davies.

18min: There is a break in play at the moment as Sean Long receives treatment after seemingly picking up an injury. Morais did have the opportunity to run down an open left flank after receiving a throw-out from Rouven Sattelmaier but the winger sportingly put the ball out.

13min: Rory McArdle's downward header from Morais' resulting corner towards the far post drops harmlessly wide of Norris' goal.

12min: Haris Vuckic's great ball in behind Cambridge's defences has Mark Marshall in space down the right channel of the visitors' penalty area. Marshall looks to put the ball into a dangerous area but the winger's cross-come-shot deflects off Blair Adams and goes up and over Norris' bar for a corner.

10min: Filipe Morais' hooked ball in behind has Jordy Hiwula interested but Cambridge defender Tom Dallison is just able to head the ball back to 'keeper Will Norris despite the striker's close attention.

8min: Harrison Dunk's neat pass finds Maris in space inside City's penalty area. Maris tries to make the most out of the situation by running at Nicky Law but the City midfielder is watchful and eventually able to see the ball out of play for a goal-kick.

6min: George Maris sends over an inviting free-kick from wide towards the far post but the ball is just out of the reach of Leon Legge and goes out for a goal kick.

0min: The Bantams kick off. City will attack towards the T L Dallas Stand end in the first period.

BRADFORD CITY LINE UP:

Sattelmaier, Darby, McArdle, N Clarke, Kilgallon, Law, Dieng, Morais, Marshall, Vuckic, Hiwula

Subs: Doyle, Cullen, McNulty, King, Devine, McMahon, Hudson

Bradford City substitutions:
McMahon for Darby (25), Devine for Dieng (46), Cullen for Vuckic (64)

Bradford City cautions:
N Clarke (74), McMahon (84)

CAMBRIDGE UNITED LINE UP:

Norris, Long, Dallison, Legge, Adams, Mingoia, Maris, Dunne, Clark, Dunk, Williamson

Subs: Gregory, Berry, Roberts, Newton, Ikpeazu, Davies, Taylor

Davies for Long (20), Ikpeazu for Mingoia (56), Berry for Maris (56)