L2 v Aldershot (a) L0-1 March 2nd 2010

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Aldershot: Henderson ,Herd ,Charles ,Winfield (Blackburn ,22 ) ,Straker (Spencer ,77 ) ,Harding ,Bozanic ,Donnelly ,Hudson (Jackson ,84 ) ,Sandell ,Hylton
Subs not used: Soares,Riza,Chalmers,Jaimez-Ruiz,

Bradford: Glennon ,Ramsden ,Clarke ,Luke O'Brien (Daley ,58 ) ,Threlfall ,Williams ,Flynn ,Bullock ,Evans (Grant ,73 ) ,McCammon (O'Neill ,58 ) ,Hanson
Subs not used Michael Boulding,Thorne,McLaughlan,Bateson,

Bookings: Clarke ,Daley ,Hanson (Bradford)

Attendance: 2311

Referee: P Crossley (Kent)

TEAM STATS
Aldershot    Bradford
7(4)    Shots (on Goal)    6(1)
5    Fouls    9
7    Corner Kicks    10
2    Offsides    1
48%    Time of Poss.    52%
0    Yellow Cards    3
0    Red Cards    0
2    Saves    4



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T&A

Another Tayl of woe at the Wreckreation Ground
6:50am Wednesday 3rd March 2010
By Simon Parker

Aldershot 1 City 0

City's mini-revival was Shot down in Hampshire last night to extend Peter Taylor's Recreation Ground jinx.

Taylor had been beaten here in the previous two seasons with Wycombe and Stevenage.

And he collected an unwanted hat-trick as his new club failed to build on their back-to-back wins.

Although City can play a lot better, they were still kicking themselves for missing several chances to get

something from the game.

Buoyed by the confidence of successive victories, Taylor had named an unchanged side for the first time, with

non-contract striker Gavin Grant added to the bench at a ground where he had scored on his last two non-league

visits with Taylor's Stevenage and Grays.

The game began in unremarkable fashion. Both sides forced a couple of corners in the opening ten minutes without

troubling either keeper.

Aldershot midfielder Ben Harding tried to emulate the long-range rockets from last season's fixture but sent the

ball towering over the bar.

But there was a flutter in City's defence after Gareth Evans fouled Andy Sandell near the touchline. Scott

Donnelly's free-kick beat its intended target and Matt Glennon before bouncing wide.

Aldershot then went route one, keeper Stephen Henderson launching a booming clearance towards Kirk Hudson. He held

off Luke O'Brien on the edge of the box and found Donnelly but Robbie Threlfall was across to snuff out the danger.

The home side were enjoying the bulk of the play but City kept numbers behind the ball. The flat atmosphere wasn't

helped by injury stoppages for Mark McCammon and then Shots defender Dave Winfield, who had to limp off.

With City looking to hit the big two up front, the lofty Winfield's absence played into their hands and James

Hanson won his first aerial tussle with substitute Chris Blackburn.

And Hanson had City's first chance from a Simon Ramsden corner, Henderson needing two grabs to hold his header

before Evans could pounce.

The match was turning into a corner-fest – with ten clocked up in just over half an hour – but it lacked any real

quality.

City weren't holding on to the ball well enough and Aldershot's main tactic seemed to focus on Henderson hoofing

the ball 70 yards at the earliest opportunity.

They strung a better move together as Hudson cut inside Threlfall but he slipped while shooting and Glennon had an

easy save.

Corners remained City's most likely route to an opening goal, with the frontmen proving a handful. Another good

delivery from Ramsden was met by a combination of Hanson and Steve Williams but McCammon was unable to direct his

shot on the turn from close range and the chance dribbled away.

Henderson, under pressure on the byline from O'Brien, put himself in trouble with a scuffed clearance that landed

at Flynn's feet. But Anthony Charles got in a crucial block to save his keeper's bacon.

Aldershot shouted in vain for a penalty as half-time approached. Danny Hylton appeared to be nudged over by Matt

Clarke as they chased another long ball but referee Phil Crossley was unimpressed.

In a dour opening half, City had kept it pretty tight against the third top home scorers in the division. Aldershot

had enjoyed the bulk of possession and played the better football yet City had looked the more likely to break the

deadlock.

McCammon appeared after the break with a bandage round his head following his early knock. It was reminiscent of

Graeme Lee at Aldershot last season.

Aldershot had a chance four minutes in but Harding skied it into the trees behind the open end of the ground. But

that lifted the home side and Hudson was almost played in from a slick passing exchange down the right flank.

City responded as Flynn picked out Evans in space to cross. His ball flew behind Hanson but bounced back to him off

Ben Herd's shin.

The goal opened up briefly but Blackburn slid in with a vital interception to smother the shot wide.

But the stalemate was ended after 54 minutes – and City paid the price for not clearing their lines.

The danger seemed to have passed when Ramsden headed a corner away but Donnelly, who had taken it, fired the ball

back in straight to Charles and the centre half had room to control and drive his fourth goal of the season past

Glennon.

Taylor reacted to the setback with a double change, bringing on Omar Daley and Steve O'Leary for O'Brien and

McCammon. Flynn was pushed further forward as City switched to 4-3-3.

The heat was starting to rise and Hanson was booked for going in late on the keeper.

It was not happening for City and Flynn headed over harmlessly. Then Daley set off on an angled charge into the

Aldershot box but his cross sailed behind.

The Jamaican got a stern warning for clattering Herd but there was no escaping a card when he did it again on the

other side two minutes later.

Aldershot had upped their game and a thunderbolt from Hylton was palmed up in the air by Glennon, who recovered in

time to deal with the rebound.

Grant came on for his debut with 17 minutes left as Clarke received City's third booking for clattering Hylton.

Aldershot should have sealed the points when Glennon parried Harding's header. The ball fell for newly-arrived

substitute Damian Spencer eight yards out but he thrashed wildly over.

City launched a late rally and subs O'Leary and Daley combined to tee up Threlfall but he screwed his shot across

goal.

And they were almost gifted an equaliser in stoppage time when Herd headed Daley's through ball past his own keeper

but the wrong side of the post.

Then O'Leary's volley fell conveniently for Lee Bullock, who crashed it over from ten yards. It was a big miss and

summed up City's frustrating evening.

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T&A

Taylor dwells on positives after defeat
7:00am Wednesday 3rd March 2010
By Simon Parker

Peter Taylor believes City are heading the right way despite last night's setback at Aldershot.

The two-match winning run was ended with a 1-0 loss at the Recreation Ground. Defender Anthony Charles notched the

only goal before Lee Bullock missed a great chance to equalise deep into stoppage time.

But Taylor, who is looking for another loan addition ahead of Saturday's clash with Rotherham, saw more reasons for

optimism.

He said: "Of course it's disappointing after the last couple of results. You'd love to win every match and go on

fantastic runs but we have got to be realistic on that.

"There were still good things – and some poor ones as well – and overall I feel we are still getting slightly

better.

"We can improve in certain areas. Aldershot had a bit more patience on the ball and I felt we were looking for

longer passes and 'worldy' balls.

"That's probably down to confidence and the players that we've got here.

"We can play better but we still probably created as many chances as the opposition, if not more. We looked very

strong on set-pieces and our corners were good."

But Taylor was unhappy with the 54th-minute goal as City half-cleared a corner and then left centre half Charles

unmarked when the ball came back into the penalty area.

Striker Gavin Grant made his first appearance from the bench and produced a couple of lively runs.

Taylor added: "He's lively and decent, although he's not ready for a full game yet.

"Gavin got a bit of a whack on his ankle at the end but hopefully it's not too bad.

"Mark McCammon also had four stitches in his head but he'll be okay."

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http://www.theshots.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=32366&newstype=i

Boss - Bradford Reaction

Shots boss Kevin Dillon spoke to The Shots Online following his side's 1-0 victory over Bradford City on Tuesday

evening saying: "It was a very good performance, the team were together from Danny [Hylton] up front who chased

everything, the midfield looked very competitive tonight and we had the width and Kirk [Hudson] caused a lot of

problems.

"We had the back four who were nice and solid and the keeper [Stephen Henderson] was terrific tonight and he got a

great reception at half-time and I'm pleased with the crowd tonight and the reaction we got.

"I thought he made a couple of good saves and he took one in his head for the team and one in his stomach and a

couple of others. His manager was here tonight and I'm sure he was pleased with his performance.

"At the end there we kept the ball down there [in the opposition's corner] for about three minutes and the idiot

that's got up [in the crowd] who started shouting at Donnelly; it's ridiculous; what does he want?

"There's two minutes to go, I'm screaming at Donnelly to keep it in the corner because we've won the game and

perhaps he shouldn't have reacted the way that he has done, but I might have done the same if I'd been in his

situation because he never stopped - he kept going on and on and on and you don't need people like that, it's not

necessary.

"I was telling the lads after the game, I sensed a different mentality on Saturday - even on Friday on the bus

going up to the game and then tonight I thought everybody was together again - the dressing room was solid, they

went out as a team and stuck together as a team and came in as a team and that was nice to see."

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from wycombe web site:

OLIVER JOINS TAYLOR AT BRADFORD (1 month loan)

Posted on: Wed 03 Mar 2010
*Luke Oliver has today joined Peter Taylor's Bradford City on a
one-month loan deal.

*The move reunites the centre-back with the manager that brought him to
Adams Park in January 2009 on a free transfer from Blue Square Premier
side Stevenage Borough.

However, Oliver has struggled to hold down a regular starting spot since
Gary Waddock took charge in October and has moved to Valley Parade in
search of first team football.

The 26-year-old will remain with the League Two side until Saturday 3rd
April.

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from Bucks free press

Wycombe WANDERERS defender Luke Oliver has joined Bradford City on loan

He rejoins Peter Taylor the manager who signed him for Wycombe.

The 6ft 7ins defender has lost his place in the Wanderers' back four
recently with new signings Alan Bennett and Adam Hinselwood being chosen
to partner Chris Westwood instead.

---

PETER TAYLOR HAS HIGH HOPES FOR NEW SIGNING OLIVER
7:00am Thursday 4th March 2010

By Simon Parker (T&A)

Luke Oliver is ready to make a big impression on City after becoming Peter
Taylor's fourth signing.

The Wycombe centre half, who today rejoined his old boss on a month's loan,
stands at a towering 6ft 7in.

He is very tall and very strong in the air. I brought him in at Wycombe last
season and he helped to clinch promotion

Like Gavin Grant, Oliver has played for Taylor at both Stevenage and
Wycombe. And the Bantams boss is confident he will provide a real presence
at the back.

Taylor said: "He is very tall and very strong in the air. I brought him in
at Wycombe last season and he played a few games for us, helping to clinch
promotion.

"He didn't start the first game this season but after that got in the team
quite early. But he's been left out for the last few weeks so it's a chance
for him to get back playing again.

"With Zesh (Rehman) having a calf injury at the moment, I wanted a little
bit of cover defensively. And I'm always out to push everyone I can and
hopefully Luke coming here will do that."

Oliver, 27, is in his second spell in league football. Having been released
by Wycombe in 2004, he played for Woking and Stevenage before Taylor took
him back to Adams Park last January as cover when skipper Mike Williamson
was sold to Watford.

He played eight games during the run-in, though only once from the start.
His main role was coming off the bench to close down a game if opponents
posed a danger in the air.

Oliver, who is out of contract in the summer, has been more involved this
term in League One with 21 starts for the struggling Chairboys. But he has
not featured in the last three games since a 1-1 draw with Brentford on
February 13 and played for Wycombe's reserves against Ipswich on Tuesday.

The Londoner will train with his new team-mates at Apperley Bridge this
morning and is set to go straight in against Rotherham on Saturday.

Oliver follows Grant, Mark McCammon and Robbie Threlfall as Taylor continues
to shake up the squad he inherited just over a fortnight ago.

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NEILSON LOANED TO CAMBRIDGE UNITED
11:24am Thursday 4th March 2010

By Simon Parker (T&A)

Bradford City winger Scott Neilson has joined Cambridge United on a month's
loan.

The 22-year-old, signed in August from Cambridge City to replace Joe
Colbeck, has not featured in the last three games under Peter Taylor.

Cambridge United boss Martin Ling said: "He's been playing League Two
football this season and due to the change in manager has become available."

Neilson is likely to make his Conference debut at Barrow on Saturday.

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Midfielder Adam Bolder joins the Bantams from League 1 side Millwall for an
initial one month period.

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1984562,00.html

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