L2 v Bournemouth (a) L1-4 Mar 17th 2009

Bournemouth 4-1 Bradford

Steve Fletcher scored two and set up the other two as Bournemouth easily beat Bradford at Dean Court.

The veteran striker drilled a low shot beyond City keeper Rhys Evans but Matthew Clarke headed the visitors level from Nicky Law's free-kick.

Mark Molesley's dummy and disguised pass found Fletcher lurking in space to add a second while Jeff Goulding arrowed in a third before half-time.

Fletcher then helped on a long-ball for Goulding to race clear and fire home.

Bournemouth: Jalal, Cummings, Pearce, Garry, Bradbury, Robinson, Molesley (Guyett 74), Hollands, Pitman, Goulding (Feeney 80), Fletcher (Bartley 65).
Subs Not Used: Pryce, Cooper.

Goals: Fletcher 4, 39, Goulding 40, 51.

Bradford: Evans, Arnison, Lee, Clarke, Rehman, Jones, Furman, Law, Brandon (Gillespie 64), Conlon, Michael Boulding.
Subs Not Used: McLaren, Bullock, Colbeck, O'Brien.

Goals: Clarke 25.

Att: 4,847

Ref: Phil Crossley (Kent).



Game Statistics
Cherries / Bantams
12 Goal Attempts 13
10 On Target 6
2 Crosses 7
5 Corners 5
17 Fouls 12
0 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0




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Also in this issue:

5 more clubs will be in administration before the end of the month
L2 Play Off Dates announced

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McCall threatens to quit Bradford

McCall has been in charge at Valley Parade since May 2007

Stuart McCall says he will quit his post as Bradford manager if they fail to reach the League Two play-offs.

The City boss made his outburst after a fifth consecutive away defeat, 4-1 at Bournemouth, that leaves the Bantams outside the play-off places.

He told BBC Radio Leeds: "If we are not in the play-offs at the end of the season, I will not be here.

"Nobody is hurting more than me but it's as simple as that, if we miss out I don't deserve to be here."

McCall, who only agreed a new two-year deal at Valley Parade last month, accused his side of "criminal" defending at Dean Court and admitted he was a worried man as the Bantams' promotion challenge threatens to come off the rails.

"It's my team that's out there - I tried to build it and we've had three really poor results," said McCall, whose side have eight games left to play.

"I'll look at my own position come the end of these eight games and if we're not in the play-offs then I won't be here.

"It's as simple as that because I can't go through that again - you say people are hurting but there's nobody hurting more than me so it's doing me no good."

    
City remained eighth in the League Two table after the defeat, below seventh-placed Shrewsbury on goal difference and five points adrift of an automatic promotion spot.

And McCall has demanded that his players bounce back against Port Vale on Saturday.

"We play Vale at home and then go to Chester, they are both must-win games," he added.


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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/4210936.City_done_four_as_they_fail_to_stop_rot/

City done four as they fail to stop rot
7:40am Wednesday 18th March 2009

Bournemouth 4 City 1

City's week from hell ended in resounding defeat on the south coast last night.

Bournemouth joined Exeter and Rochdale on the Bantams' list of shame as the away slump was extended to five straight defeats.

The wheels are coming off – defensively at least – at the worst possible time.

Stuart McCall admitted afterwards that an automatic promotion slot now looks beyond them. And on this worrying evidence the play-offs are far from certain.

City can claim again that some of their play was quite bright and Bournemouth's finishing was super clinical but that will have been scant consolation as they made the long haul home in the early hours.

Stuart McCall will be wondering how a defence that is so water-tight on their own turf is suddenly leaking goals for fun away from home. Three of the four last night came from their own blunders and they could not handle Bournemouth's front two.

Once again the fans will need to be won over. Those who made the journey to Dean Court were left feeling very short-changed and angry.

Having conceded to Bournemouth's opening attack, Matt Clarke's first goal of the season gave City hope of some reward but it proved an illusion. A two-goal burst just before half-time and another straight after, aided by yet more indecision at the back, meant another case of travel sickness.

While resurgent Bournemouth took another big step towards safety, the promotion credentials of the visitors were left in tatters by this latest setback on the road.

Clarke and Barry Conlon were back after the off-field disciplinary matter which saw them banished to the stand at Exeter. Conlon replaced neck victim Peter Thorne and Clarke's return saw Zesh Rehman shuffle across to left back, with Luke O'Brien given a breather.

Rehman's extra height at full back made up for the lack of inches in midfield where, finally, Chris Brandon got his first City start – 11 months since his last one for Huddersfield.

Steve Jones, City's best player in Devon, fired off two shots in the opening two minutes – but City were stunned as Bournemouth roared in front with their first attack.

The home strikers were given too much room in the box for Jeff Goulding to set up veteran Steve Fletcher to drill past the exposed Rhys Evans from ten yards.

It was a calamitous start for the Bantams and a real test of character given the wretched away run of late.

They were almost level within five minutes as Dean Furman's deep cross found Conlon, whose header was superbly turned behind by keeper Shwan Jalal.

Michael Boulding teed up the Irishman again from City's next attack but his first-time effort sailed horribly high and wide.

City were seeing plenty of the ball again, although Goulding's willingness to chase after any cause kept the defence on their toes.

But City's response was rewarded with an equaliser after 24 minutes.

Bournemouth argued about the debatable free-kick given for a slight nudge on Jones to the side of the penalty area. But City weren't complaining as Law put the ball right on the button for Clarke to power a header past Jalal.

It was the first goal at home that the Cherries had conceded for an incredible 463 minutes. And it ended any City fears of a third straight blank on the road.

Bournemouth thought they had quickly restored their lead as Brett Pitman's corner sailed over Evans and flew directly into the net. Fortunately for City, the referee had seen an infringement to cut short the celebrations.

The close call did lift the Dean Court crowd, who had been surprisingly subdued up to that point.

City's own following, though a lot smaller than at St James Park, had been in typically good voice again.

But they were shocked into silence as Bournemouth suddenly struck twice in as many minutes to roar into a 3-1 lead.

Talisman Fletcher finished the first with aplomb after Mark Molesley had cut inside and threaded a perfect ball into his path.

And before City could recover their senses, they were cut further adrift after some shocking defending.

Clarke and Graeme Lee went for the same ball and ended up tackling each other, giving Goulding a clear run on goal to slot past Evans.

Boulding drilled a ball agonisingly across the six-yard box with Conlon unable to reach it as City looked for an instant way back. Then Law's shot was deflected behind and Conlon won the header from his corner but the ball did not fall for a white shirt.

The two-goal deficit at the break left Stuart McCall's men with a mountain to climb against a side unbeaten on their own patch under rookie chief Eddie Howe.

Another away defeat loomed large – and for the fourth time in five, City's goal had been breached at least three times.

Warren Cummings skinned the sliding Jones as Bournemouth roared out of the blocks again. Anton Robinson's lofted flick from his cross was clutched above his head by Evans.

City were allowing too many crosses and Evans saved from Fletcher's head after another dangerous ball in from Cummings.

But it was no surprise when Bournemouth made it 4-1 after 51 minutes. City were ripped open too easily once more after an awful header from Lee and Goulding made no mistake from close range.

Within seconds he was through on goal again and on for a hat-trick but, for once, the finish could not match the build-up.

Jones thumped over the Bournemouth bar and Boulding's drive was tipped on to the outside of the post by Jalal.

But the problems were at the other end and the frustrated away fans chanted for Mark Bower, currently on loan with Luton.

Instead it was Keith Gillespie who emerged off the bench with just under half an hour left. Not the ideal starting platform he would have envisaged.

He came on for Brandon, who had shown one or two tidy touches but is clearly still finding his way back.

As Jones switched flanks to the left, Gillespie almost had an immediate impact with a cross-shot which the diving Boulding was only inches from tucking away.

Conlon tried an ambitious 35-yarder which was greeted with catcalls from the away section and a chorus of "what a load of rubbish". Having travelled nearly 300 miles for nothing, their frustration was understandable.

Gillespie's arrival had improved their attacking play but there was no hint of a comeback as the gallows humour continued among the 221 hardy fans.

It's hard to keep spirits up after another long and fruitless journey – Wembley and the prospect of a play-off final date in May is getting further away.




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http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/yorkshire-soccer/Bradford-City-Fans39-fury-as.5081972.jp

Bradford City: Fans' fury as City crash

The travel-sick Bantams slumped to another heavy away defeat as resurgent Bournemouth cruised to victory at Dean Court.
The loss, Bradford's fifth in succession on the road, was met with fury at the final whistle with the City faithful demanding their money back from a long and fruitless trip to the south coast, which came just three days after a 1-0 reverse at Exeter .

A disastrous first half put paid to Bradford's hopes of climbing back into the play-off reckoning as the Cherries opened up a 3-1 interval lead.

City fell behind after just four minutes when Graeme Lee and Matt Clarke failed to deal with a ball on the edge of the box and striker Jeff Goulding found fellow frontman Steve Fletcher who beat Rhys Evans with the finish.

Clarke made amends for his indecision on 25 minutes when he headed home Nicky Law's free-kick, but that was as good as it got for Stuart McCall's faltering side.

The hosts regained the lead on 39 minutes through Fletcher and City had barely had time to catch their breath, as Bournemouth scored again within a minute.

This time Fletcher returned the compliment sending Goulding away and he raced 40 yards to beat Evans.

Six minutes after the restart, Goulding got his second and Bournemouth's fourth as he outpaced the flagging visiting defence.
The result leaves Bradford eighth in the table.

Bournemouth: Jalal, Cummings, Pearce, Garry, Bradbury, Robinson, Molesley, Hollands, Pitman, Goulding, Fletcher. Subs: Pryce, Feeney, Cooper, Guyett, Bartley.

Bradford: Evans, Arnison, Lee, Clarke, Rehman, Jones, Furman, Law, Brandon, Conlon, Michael Boulding. Subs: McLaren, Bullock, Colbeck, O'Brien, Gillespie.

Referee: Phil Crossley (Kent).








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5 more clubs will be in administration before the end of the month


http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/the-last-word-five-clubs-will-follow-us-into-administration-1645305.html


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Play Off Dates announced

League Two play off fixtures

Semi-Final First Leg
Seventh v Fourth - Thursday 7th May - Kick off 7.45pm
Sixth v Fifth - Friday 8th May - Kick Off 7.45pm
 
Semi-Final Second Leg
Fourth v Seventh - Sunday 10th May - Kick off 6.30pm
Fifth v Sixth - Monday 11th May - Kick off 7.45pm
 
Final
Saturday 23rd May - Wembley Stadium - Kick Off 3.00pm
 


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