Coca-Cola League Two
Cheltenham (3) 4 Hammond 4, Townsend 12, Richards 43, 89.
Bradford C (3) 5 O'Brien 2, Evans 7, Hanson 20, Williams 50, Townsend og 71
Att: 3,073
Cheltenham (3) 4 Hammond 4, Townsend 12, Richards 43, 89.
Bradford C (3) 5 O'Brien 2, Evans 7, Hanson 20, Williams 50, Townsend og 71
Att: 3,073
Ref: Grant Hegley
Yellow cards: None
Stats: Cheltenham - Bradford C
Possession: 49 - 51%
Shots on target: 4 - 7
Shots off target: 4 - 6
Fouls: 10 - 11
Corners: 7 - 5
Cheltenham: 1. Scott P Brown, 6. Drissa Diallo, 4. Shane Duff (14), 5.
Michael Townsend, 3. Lee Ridley, 10. David Hutton, 2. David Bird, 8. Andy
Gallinagh, 16. Oliver Bozanic (15), 11. Elvis Hammond (45), 9. Justin
Richards.
Subs: 40. Barry Richardson (GK), 12. Kyle Haynes (15), 14. Marley Watkins,
17. Joshua Low, 19. Tom Denton, 38. Barry Hayles (14), 39. Julian Alsop
(45).
Bradford C: 1. Simon Eastwood, 2. Simon Ramsden, 5. Zesh Rehman, 12. Steve
Williams, 3. Luke O'Brien, 15. Joe Colbeck, 19. James O'Brien, 8. Lee
Bullock, 4. Michael Flynn, 9. Gareth Evans, 17. James Hanson.
Subs: 13. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 6. Matthew Clarke, 10. Peter Thorne, 11.
Chris Brandon, 14. Michael Boulding, 24. Louis Horne.
Next match: (H) Torquay Saturday August 29, 2009. K.O. 3:00PM
Photos
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1765615,00.html
***
Also in this issue:
***
Away from VP?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/360/version2_valley_parade.shtml
Fixtures
===========================
It's raining goals as City drought ends
6:40am Monday 24th August 2009
By Simon Parker
Cheltenham 4 City 5
Referee Grant Hegley was probably the only man in Cheltenham who could have seen this one coming.
City's whackiest result for five years since they won by the same score at Tranmere.
And the official in charge that day? The same Mr Hegley of Northamptonshire.
No wonder he kept his cards in his pocket all afternoon. He was enjoying the score-fest too much to risk spoiling the fun.
It was almost inevitable that City should end their four-game goal drought by suddenly blasting them in at will. It's afternoons like Saturday's that make football worth watching.
Amazingly, City went goal-crazy minus their two leading strikers. Peter Thorne joined Michael Boulding on the bench – along with Chris Brandon, their best player in the last two games.
Brandon had missed training ill but McCall hinted afterwards that he would probably not have played anyway.
Easier to say in hindsight, maybe, but a bold decision nonetheless.
McCall put his trust in youth – and a side that contained only three players who had scored for the club, Joe Colbeck, Lee Bullock and Luke O'Brien.
At 28, Bullock and Michael Flynn were the grand old men in a team with an average age of five years younger.
A complete contrast from the days of Paul Jewell's Dad's Army. The cost of assembling those players was very different too.
McCall, quite pointedly, remarked that this was probably the cheapest City side in recent memory.
James Hanson was promoted to the frontline with keen support on both flanks from Gareth Evans and Colbeck.
Brandon's absence in midfield created an opening for James O'Brien, the cocksure Irish youngster who had made quite an impression in pre-season.
He didn't need long to make his mark on Saturday – less than two minutes.
Evans roasted right back Drissa Diallo, for the first of many occasions, and though his cross was knocked clear of the waiting Colbeck, it fell perfectly for O'Brien to lash home. His first touch of his first start and his first goal.
But that was a mere starter for the frolics that followed. Every time City scored, Cheltenham would quickly respond.
Elvis Hammond notched the first reply straight from the kick-off with the visitors still celebrating breaking that scoring duck.
But the lead was instantly restored as Evans left Diallo for dead from Luke O'Brien's pass, cutting inside with menace before firing into the bottom corner.
This time the advantage held for three minutes before Michael Townsend outjumped Zesh Rehman to nod Cheltenham's second. Ten minutes gone, four goals already.
It was like a human version of an X-box game; strikers using their LT/RT buttons to outwit stumbling markers. There were clearly more goals on the way.
Joe Colbeck's dangerous cross was shuffled behind for the game's opening corner. James O'Brien put it just where he'd been told on the training ground and Hanson's head did the rest.
City threatened with every attack; Cheltenham with every set-piece. The long throw-ins, a trademark of a Martin Allen side, were proving a handful as well as David Hutton's free-kicks.
The pressure brought a third equaliser three minutes before half-time, Justin Richards netting with a clever overhead after City were penned in by another throw.
A level scoreline at the break was harsh on City. Given previous results, it presented a real test of character.
"The lads were a little bit down as they would be," said McCall. "But we stayed positive because we knew that if we kept going forward, we would create chances."
So it proved. Within five minutes, Hanson peeled off the back to knock back Simon Ramsden's free-kick and Steve Williams rammed home the header to become the fourth "new" City scorer.
Surely City couldn't let it slip again?
Cheltenham had a shout for a fourth ruled out for a barge on Simon Eastwood before Ramsden nicked the fifth with a header that was diverted home via the unwitting Townsend.
Now it looked a question of just how many the visitors could rack up. James O'Brien was inches away from another following more awful defending and keeper Scott Brown needed a quick recovery to deny Colbeck after miscontrolling a back pass.
But it wouldn't be City without a late scare or two and Richards kept it interesting when he forced home his second goal with time ticking away.
The three minutes added on provided a few further palpitations but City hung on for their memorable victory.
A drained McCall laughed: "It was the game I predicted all along – a tight 1-0!
"It's no good for the heart – or our kitman – but this was a huge result.
"But that was the youngest, and certainly cheapest, team Bradford have put out for a long time and I'm really proud of them. There were a lot of young kids playing but they stuck together.
"You might get wrong decision-making with younger lads but you get that extra pace and energy.
"There was a determination in training on Thursday and Friday to get back on track and we've done that.
"There's a lot of work still to do in certain areas but I'm absolutely delighted for the players."
Cheap and very cheerful.
===========================
Bradford City: Boss Stuart McCall's happy with high five on the road
Stuart McCall will focus on the positives after his Bradford side finally claimed their first victory of the season in a nine-goal thriller at Cheltenham.
The Bantams led three times in the first half but allowed the home side to hit back as a breathless opening period finished all-square.
They then took the lead for the fourth time five minutes after the restart and opened a two-goal advantage for the first time after 71 minutes, but the hosts hit back again to set up a tense finale.
But McCall said: "We will go away and study the dvd to look at the goals we conceded. We have a lot to work on, especially with defensive free-kicks, but we're a young side and we have to take the positives out of it. There were a lot of good performances and the best thing was that we scored a goal then we scored four more."
The first goal arrived in the second minute when Gareth Evans raced down the left and his cross was half-cleared to James O'Brien, who slammed home from the edge of the area.
Cheltenham responded when Oliver Bozanic's cross reached Elvis Hammond at the far post and his delicate finish crossed the line.
Evans then left Drissa Diallo and Michael Townsend trailing before finishing clinically to make it 2-1 after seven minutes, but three minutes later Town equalised again, Townsend heading in David Hutton's free-kick.
O'Brien's corner was headed in by James Hanson on 20 minutes – his first goal for City – but Justin Richards opened his account for Cheltenham with an overhead kick to make it 3-3.
Steve Williams powered a header past Brown to make it 4-3 early in the second half and it was 5-3 to the Bantams when O'Brien's free-kick was flicked on by Simon Ramsden and deflected in off Townsend.
And though Richards bagged his second of the game, Bradford held on.
===========================
Bantams edge nine-goal thriller
Bradford picked up their first victory of the season after winning 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller at Cheltenham.
The Bantams had not scored in their opening four matches, but they ended their drought in style.
James O'Brien slammed in their first from the edge of the penalty area after good work from Gareth Evans in the second minute, but Cheltenham hit back through Elvis Hammond's third of the season two minutes later.
Evans scored a fine solo effort in the seventh minute as Bradford regained the lead, but Michael Townsend headed in David Hutton's free-kick to make it 2-2 after 10 minutes.
James Hanson leapt highest to head in O'Brien's corner after 20 minutes, but Cheltenham responded once again when Justin Richards netted a fine overhead kick before half-time.
Steve Williams made it 4-3 in the 50th minute after a flick-on from Hanson and Simon Ramsden's header from O'Brien's free-kick deflected in off Townsend to give Bradford a two-goal advantage in the 71st minute.
Richards stabbed home his second in the 89th minute, but Bradford held on to inflict Cheltenham's first league defeat of the campaign.
===========================
Cheltenham view
http://www.ctfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10434~1764988,00.html
===========================
Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=46810838356
or search for
"City Forward! Mailing List"
***
Texas Bantams Blog
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
***
CFML since February 1997 is edited by Greg S. in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas
***
Yellow cards: None
Stats: Cheltenham - Bradford C
Possession: 49 - 51%
Shots on target: 4 - 7
Shots off target: 4 - 6
Fouls: 10 - 11
Corners: 7 - 5
Cheltenham: 1. Scott P Brown, 6. Drissa Diallo, 4. Shane Duff (14), 5.
Michael Townsend, 3. Lee Ridley, 10. David Hutton, 2. David Bird, 8. Andy
Gallinagh, 16. Oliver Bozanic (15), 11. Elvis Hammond (45), 9. Justin
Richards.
Subs: 40. Barry Richardson (GK), 12. Kyle Haynes (15), 14. Marley Watkins,
17. Joshua Low, 19. Tom Denton, 38. Barry Hayles (14), 39. Julian Alsop
(45).
Bradford C: 1. Simon Eastwood, 2. Simon Ramsden, 5. Zesh Rehman, 12. Steve
Williams, 3. Luke O'Brien, 15. Joe Colbeck, 19. James O'Brien, 8. Lee
Bullock, 4. Michael Flynn, 9. Gareth Evans, 17. James Hanson.
Subs: 13. Jon McLaughlin (GK), 6. Matthew Clarke, 10. Peter Thorne, 11.
Chris Brandon, 14. Michael Boulding, 24. Louis Horne.
Next match: (H) Torquay Saturday August 29, 2009. K.O. 3:00PM
Photos
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1765615,00.html
***
Also in this issue:
***
Away from VP?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/360/version2_valley_parade.shtml
Fixtures
===========================
It's raining goals as City drought ends
6:40am Monday 24th August 2009
By Simon Parker
Cheltenham 4 City 5
Referee Grant Hegley was probably the only man in Cheltenham who could have seen this one coming.
City's whackiest result for five years since they won by the same score at Tranmere.
And the official in charge that day? The same Mr Hegley of Northamptonshire.
No wonder he kept his cards in his pocket all afternoon. He was enjoying the score-fest too much to risk spoiling the fun.
It was almost inevitable that City should end their four-game goal drought by suddenly blasting them in at will. It's afternoons like Saturday's that make football worth watching.
Amazingly, City went goal-crazy minus their two leading strikers. Peter Thorne joined Michael Boulding on the bench – along with Chris Brandon, their best player in the last two games.
Brandon had missed training ill but McCall hinted afterwards that he would probably not have played anyway.
Easier to say in hindsight, maybe, but a bold decision nonetheless.
McCall put his trust in youth – and a side that contained only three players who had scored for the club, Joe Colbeck, Lee Bullock and Luke O'Brien.
At 28, Bullock and Michael Flynn were the grand old men in a team with an average age of five years younger.
A complete contrast from the days of Paul Jewell's Dad's Army. The cost of assembling those players was very different too.
McCall, quite pointedly, remarked that this was probably the cheapest City side in recent memory.
James Hanson was promoted to the frontline with keen support on both flanks from Gareth Evans and Colbeck.
Brandon's absence in midfield created an opening for James O'Brien, the cocksure Irish youngster who had made quite an impression in pre-season.
He didn't need long to make his mark on Saturday – less than two minutes.
Evans roasted right back Drissa Diallo, for the first of many occasions, and though his cross was knocked clear of the waiting Colbeck, it fell perfectly for O'Brien to lash home. His first touch of his first start and his first goal.
But that was a mere starter for the frolics that followed. Every time City scored, Cheltenham would quickly respond.
Elvis Hammond notched the first reply straight from the kick-off with the visitors still celebrating breaking that scoring duck.
But the lead was instantly restored as Evans left Diallo for dead from Luke O'Brien's pass, cutting inside with menace before firing into the bottom corner.
This time the advantage held for three minutes before Michael Townsend outjumped Zesh Rehman to nod Cheltenham's second. Ten minutes gone, four goals already.
It was like a human version of an X-box game; strikers using their LT/RT buttons to outwit stumbling markers. There were clearly more goals on the way.
Joe Colbeck's dangerous cross was shuffled behind for the game's opening corner. James O'Brien put it just where he'd been told on the training ground and Hanson's head did the rest.
City threatened with every attack; Cheltenham with every set-piece. The long throw-ins, a trademark of a Martin Allen side, were proving a handful as well as David Hutton's free-kicks.
The pressure brought a third equaliser three minutes before half-time, Justin Richards netting with a clever overhead after City were penned in by another throw.
A level scoreline at the break was harsh on City. Given previous results, it presented a real test of character.
"The lads were a little bit down as they would be," said McCall. "But we stayed positive because we knew that if we kept going forward, we would create chances."
So it proved. Within five minutes, Hanson peeled off the back to knock back Simon Ramsden's free-kick and Steve Williams rammed home the header to become the fourth "new" City scorer.
Surely City couldn't let it slip again?
Cheltenham had a shout for a fourth ruled out for a barge on Simon Eastwood before Ramsden nicked the fifth with a header that was diverted home via the unwitting Townsend.
Now it looked a question of just how many the visitors could rack up. James O'Brien was inches away from another following more awful defending and keeper Scott Brown needed a quick recovery to deny Colbeck after miscontrolling a back pass.
But it wouldn't be City without a late scare or two and Richards kept it interesting when he forced home his second goal with time ticking away.
The three minutes added on provided a few further palpitations but City hung on for their memorable victory.
A drained McCall laughed: "It was the game I predicted all along – a tight 1-0!
"It's no good for the heart – or our kitman – but this was a huge result.
"But that was the youngest, and certainly cheapest, team Bradford have put out for a long time and I'm really proud of them. There were a lot of young kids playing but they stuck together.
"You might get wrong decision-making with younger lads but you get that extra pace and energy.
"There was a determination in training on Thursday and Friday to get back on track and we've done that.
"There's a lot of work still to do in certain areas but I'm absolutely delighted for the players."
Cheap and very cheerful.
===========================
Bradford City: Boss Stuart McCall's happy with high five on the road
Stuart McCall will focus on the positives after his Bradford side finally claimed their first victory of the season in a nine-goal thriller at Cheltenham.
The Bantams led three times in the first half but allowed the home side to hit back as a breathless opening period finished all-square.
They then took the lead for the fourth time five minutes after the restart and opened a two-goal advantage for the first time after 71 minutes, but the hosts hit back again to set up a tense finale.
But McCall said: "We will go away and study the dvd to look at the goals we conceded. We have a lot to work on, especially with defensive free-kicks, but we're a young side and we have to take the positives out of it. There were a lot of good performances and the best thing was that we scored a goal then we scored four more."
The first goal arrived in the second minute when Gareth Evans raced down the left and his cross was half-cleared to James O'Brien, who slammed home from the edge of the area.
Cheltenham responded when Oliver Bozanic's cross reached Elvis Hammond at the far post and his delicate finish crossed the line.
Evans then left Drissa Diallo and Michael Townsend trailing before finishing clinically to make it 2-1 after seven minutes, but three minutes later Town equalised again, Townsend heading in David Hutton's free-kick.
O'Brien's corner was headed in by James Hanson on 20 minutes – his first goal for City – but Justin Richards opened his account for Cheltenham with an overhead kick to make it 3-3.
Steve Williams powered a header past Brown to make it 4-3 early in the second half and it was 5-3 to the Bantams when O'Brien's free-kick was flicked on by Simon Ramsden and deflected in off Townsend.
And though Richards bagged his second of the game, Bradford held on.
===========================
Bantams edge nine-goal thriller
Bradford picked up their first victory of the season after winning 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller at Cheltenham.
The Bantams had not scored in their opening four matches, but they ended their drought in style.
James O'Brien slammed in their first from the edge of the penalty area after good work from Gareth Evans in the second minute, but Cheltenham hit back through Elvis Hammond's third of the season two minutes later.
Evans scored a fine solo effort in the seventh minute as Bradford regained the lead, but Michael Townsend headed in David Hutton's free-kick to make it 2-2 after 10 minutes.
James Hanson leapt highest to head in O'Brien's corner after 20 minutes, but Cheltenham responded once again when Justin Richards netted a fine overhead kick before half-time.
Steve Williams made it 4-3 in the 50th minute after a flick-on from Hanson and Simon Ramsden's header from O'Brien's free-kick deflected in off Townsend to give Bradford a two-goal advantage in the 71st minute.
Richards stabbed home his second in the 89th minute, but Bradford held on to inflict Cheltenham's first league defeat of the campaign.
===========================
Cheltenham view
http://www.ctfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10434~1764988,00.html
===========================
Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=46810838356
or search for
"City Forward! Mailing List"
***
Texas Bantams Blog
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
***
CFML since February 1997 is edited by Greg S. in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas
***
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