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Match Reports

CITY SECURE SIX WINS IN A ROW

22 December 2023

Match Reports

CITY SECURE SIX WINS IN A ROW

22 December 2023

City made it six-consecutive wins as they came away 3-1 victors over Doncaster Rovers at the Eco Power Stadium in their final game before Christmas.

The Bantams would go behind in the early stages, but three neat finishes - two from Andy Cook and one from Tyler Smith - gave Graham Alexander's side the three points.

City had a shout for an early penalty just after five minutes. Smith went down in the box after getting onto the end of a Richie Smallwood through ball, but the referee waved it away.

Moments later, the home side took the lead. Harry Lewis got caught in possession on the near side touchline, and Joe Ironside robbed him of the ball and curled it in from a tight angle.

But Alexander's men rallied and shortly before the half-hour, drew level with Cook finding the equaliser.

A deep, whipped corner to the far post from Jamie Walker landed right on Cook’s head as he powered his effort through a sea of bodies to score.

City ensured they would take a 2-1 lead into the half-time break, as Smith hit double figures for the season in emphatic fashion.

In the 43rd minute, after brilliant hold-up play and a threaded through ball from Cook, his strike partner opened up his body and bent an effort from just inside the box into the far top corner.

The Bantams continued in a similar vein in the second half, almost making it three just after the hour mark. Jamie Walker nicked the ball from Tommy Rowe but his low shot rolled just wide of the post.

Doncaster remained a threat and pushed for an equaliser. Ciarán Kelly was called into action as Ironside was played in behind, but a superb last-ditch challenge kept him out.

City would however finish off the game and make sure of the three points with another Cook goal with just five minutes of normal time remaining.

Another neat move saw Brad Halliday feed Tyler Smith whose reverse ball found Alex Gilliead in space down the right-hand side. His pinpoint cut-back found the No.9 unmarked as he stroked the ball into the bottom corner.

Cook celebrated in front of a packed away end with over 2,800 Bantams, who were treated to an early Christmas present as their team came away with a deserved three points. 

DONCASTER: Ian Lawlor, Tom Anderson (C), Joseph Olowu, Tommy Rowe (Will Flint 84’), Harrison Biggins (Luke Molyneux 59’), Tom Nixon (Jamie Sterry 59’), Owen Bailey, Joe Ironside, Jack Senior (Jack Goodman 84), Ben Close, Mo Faal. SUBS NOT USED: Louis Jones, Kyle Hurst, Tavoga Kuleya.

GOALS: Ironside (7’). 

CITY: Harry Lewis, Brad Halliday, Matty Platt, Richie Smallwood (C), Jamie Walker (Alex Pattison 69’), Andy Cook (Ash Taylor 90+6’), Alex Gilliead, Tyler Smith (Emmanuel Osadebe 88’), Ciarán Kelly, Jonathan Tomkinson, Lewis Richards. SUBS NOT USED: Colin Doyle, Clarke Oduor, Vadaine Oliver, Matt Derbyshire.

GOALS: Cook (27’, 85’), Smith (43’). 

ATTENDANCE: 8,695 (with 2,845 City supporters). 


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