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A BCFC question in the BBC's quiz
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/7873159.stm
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Coca-Cola League Two
Gillingham (0) 0
Bradford C (1) 2 Daley 45, Boulding 70.
Att: 4,866
GILLS SUFFER HOME LOSS TO BANTAMS
Bradford City leapfrogged rivals Gillingham in the play-off race as goals
from Omar Daley and Michael Boulding secured a 2-0 win at Priestfield.
Daley opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before Boulding gave the
Bantams only their second win in six games.
Stuart McCall's men started well with Nicky Law's clever short corner
finding Omar Daley in acres of space but the Jamaica international shot
wastefully wide.
Gills striker Simeon Jackson found the back of the net on the half-hour mark
but his strike was ruled out for offside.
Daley made no mistake to open the scoring in the 44th minute, scuffing the
ball home following a neat pass from Boulding.
The visitors made it 2-0 in the 70th minute when Mark Bentley missed a long
ball and Boulding converted.
Stats: Gillingham - Bradford C
Possession: 41 - 59%
Shots on target: 3 - 7
Shots off target: 5 - 5
Fouls: 5 - 19
Corners: 4 - 6
Ref: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire).
Yellow cards:
Gillingham: Miller (54 min.)
Bradford C: Lee (8 min.)
Gillingham: 1. Simon Royce, 4. Stuart Lewis, 6. Garry Richards (65), 5.
Simon King, 3. John Nutter, 24. Jaime Peters (55), 8. Mark Bentley, 14. Adam
Miller, 32. Andy Barcham, 10. Simeon Jackson, 21. Dennis Oli (78).
Subs: 9. Gary Mulligan, 11. Nicky Southall (55), 15. Rene Steer (78), 25.
Luis Cumbers, 30. Mark McCammon (65).
Bradford C: 1. Rhys Evans, 33. Zeshan Rehman, 5. Graeme Lee, 12. Matthew
Clarke, 2. Paul Arnison, 25. Steve Jones (86), 24. Nicky Law, 23. Dean
Furman, 7. Omar Daley (75), 10. Peter Thorne, 14. Michael Boulding.
Subs: 8. Lee Bullock (86), 9. Barry Conlon, 13. Jon McLaughlan (GK), 15. Joe
Colbeck (75), 16. Simon Ainge.
Next matches:
(H) Wycombe, Saturday Feb 14, 2009. K.O. 3:00PM.
(H) Darlington, Tuesday Feb 17, 2009. K.O. 7:45PM.
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/4110461.Super_City_front_up_to_Gills/
SUPER CITY FRONT UP TO GILLS
By Simon Parker (T&A)
Gillingham 0, City 2
Who needs undersoil heating and pitch covers when you've got Stuart McCall's
mega-watt smile?
The beam that lit up the gaffer's face in deepest Kent would have melted the
most Arctic of blasts.
All week, City's long trek to the south-east had looked in serious doubt
because of the winter weather. By 5pm on Saturday, there were no doubts at
all that City were serious contenders again.
There were hopeful signs the week before with a much-needed win over Grimsby
but that was against a team who would have been bottom of the table but for
the points penalties of others.
This time the quality of the opposition was very different. Gillingham were
bang in form, having won four out of five, with a striker who has been
scoring for fun. Yet the home side might as well have stayed indoors in
front of the fire.
City were on top from first minute to last and delivered their most complete
performance under McCall. This was the type of away display that we dreamed
would be a regular occurrence when the legend took the Valley Parade helm.
It was a pity that so few fans had made the journey but totally
understandable given the snow and ice that had blanketed the country.
The hardy souls who did go were richly rewarded. No wonder McCall grinned
like the cat who'd got the cream.
As he said, there were big performances all over the pitch - but without
wanting to single one out, he mentioned two in particular.
The way front pair Peter Thorne and Michael Boulding never stopped chasing
down opponents, running the channels, bringing team-mates into play and
basically proving a constant pain in the Gillingham proverbial typified
everything that was right about City.
McCall said: "We defended ever so well as a team but you're always only as
good as your front two. They were our first line of defence.
"The strikers were very good, not just in an attacking way but in stopping
Gillingham from coming at us. We know Thorney and Boulders get the goals but
their work ethic was superb.
"Thorney was a typical centre forward, taking things in and setting people
up. We need some leaders and he's leading now down the middle of the pitch.
"We asked Boulders to play on the shoulder of the last defender all the time
and get down the sides of them. We felt they lacked a little bit of pace at
the back and wanted him to exploit that, which he did.
"They never gave Gillingham any time on the ball and that's what we ask from
the players. We had a lot of energy again in the middle of the park and
there was always a threat in wide areas but the front two set it all up for
me."
City wasted no time in showing they meant business, storming out of the
blocks to force a couple of early corners. They should have been in front
before Gillingham had even warmed up.
Omar Daley ruffled the back of the net - but unfortunately from the outside
- and then Boulding missed a gilt-edged chance with a free header. The home
defence went walkabout as Nicky Law swung in a cross to leave Boulding all
alone but he directed it the wrong side of the post.
Gillingham should have done better when Daley coughed up possession in front
of his own box but the puff-pastry header from Jaime Peters eight yards out
was a typical winger's effort.
Daley then showed the other side of his game with a mesmerising turn to
throw off his marker Stuart Lewis. He squared to Boulding, whose well-struck
drive was turned away by Simon Royce.
City had taken the game by the scruff of the neck, with Gillingham's
highly-rated Simeon Jackson left to feed off scraps by the dominant back
four.
Luke O'Brien had been forced to miss his second game in three with a bad
bout of tonsillitis but, with Zesh Rehman again switching to the left, Paul
Arnison slotted back in and played his best game yet in a City shirt.
Gillingham's attacking prowess relied heavily on loan wide men Peters and
Andy Barcham. Both tried Arnison's flank and both got nothing in return.
Rhys Evans was well protected throughout but needed to make one sharp save
from Adam Miller. The rebound was tapped home by Jackson but he was offside.
You sensed there was only one end where a genuine goal was going to happen
and it should have come eight minutes before the break when Law stole
possession from Lewis on the halfway line.
The youngster threaded a pass through to the path of Daley, who cut in on
goal with only Royce to beat, but the finish, on his favourite right foot,
was woeful and he dragged the ball into the side-netting.
City's tails were up, though, as Steve Jones and Boulding followed up with
close efforts. A goal had to come - and it did a minute before the break.
Boulding was the instigator with a surging run into the Gillingham half. He
got a lucky break when his pass intended for Daley bounced back to him off
the heel of Garry Richards but made no mistake second time and Daley turned
it home with an unconvincing side-foot.
Gillingham chairman Paul Scally had used his programme notes to slaughter
the boo boys for their abuse after a recent home defeat to Lincoln. His
attack fell on deaf ears as the home fans made their feelings very clear at
half-time.
There was sign of a change in mood as the second half warmed up but the
pattern of play remained the same, with City looking in complete control.
Gillingham's day should have got a whole lot worse when Miller poleaxed
Jones with a very late challenge off the ball. Referee Paul Taylor, who gave
little City's way all afternoon, showed great leniency to only produce a
yellow card for the Gills captain.
Mark Stimson tried to counter Daley's danger by bringing on the more
resolute Nicky Southall for Peters but the home defence was coming under
attack from all sides.
Jones was also enjoying a productive day on the other wing and he supplied
the through pass that put the result to bed with 20 minutes left. Centre
half Mark Bentley dived at it but missed, which left Boulding with all the
time in the world to beat Royce for City's second.
The winning margin could have been more conclusive. Boulding flashed a
diving header wide and Daley took his eye off the ball to spoil a four
against three counter-attack.
Daley departed with cramp but it was nothing to worry about. He will be fit
for Jamaica's friendly against Nigeria at the New Den on Wednesday - and his
first chance to impress Reggae Boyz boss John Barnes.
The only downer was Graeme Lee's fifth booking, which means he will miss his
first game since inheriting the City armband.
But his team's display had spoken volumes and sent out a message to the
others bunched around them in the promotion chase.
Wycombe are up next, with Darlington to follow. City may have hit their
stride at just the right moment.
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/4110429.Dazzling_Daley_shines_for_City/
Dazzling Daley shines for City
7:10am Monday 9th February 2009
Omar Daley has urged City fans not to expect too much magic from him.
The enigmatic Jamaican was back to his thrilling best in Saturday's 2-0 win at promotion rivals Gillingham.
Daley netted the first goal and looked a constant threat as City claimed a second straight win to move up to fifth in League Two.
But the winger divides opinion among supporters and is often an easy target when games are not going well.
Daley said: "That doesn't worry me because the fans have paid to come and see me and I don't mind if they have a go.
"But sometimes when they watch the game, they need to understand that I'm not going to pick the ball up and run past four or five people every time.
"I try to pick the right moment and sometimes I'll get into a one against one situation with the defender and take the chance to attack when it comes. But it's not always easy to do that.
"Everybody comes at me very hard in this league. There are no easy games for Omar because there are people definitely coming to stop you.
"But I will try my best and train hard to get fitter because I want to do well for this team."
Daley missed two good chances, including a one-on-one, before converting Michael Boulding's pass with a scuffed shot.
He said: "I will take that all day! I've been looking for another goal for a couple of weeks and just waiting patiently.
"I've played loads of games and get a lot of chances but I don't put pressure on myself to get goals. I'm just as happy if a team-mate scores.
"I look at the Bradford City dressing room and there is no player I'm not confident in. Every individual is a good player and I'm proud I'm part of that."
Boulding sealed victory with his 11th goal of the season and Stuart McCall was full of praise for a display he described as City's best away this season.
He said: "I thought we played really well at Brentford without getting anything but that win was as good as any. It's nice to come away and beat a team who are up there.
"We were really good from first to last. There were some big performances throughout the side and it's really hard to single anyone out.
"We were up against a team who had won four out of five and were in good form and I thought we dominated the whole game.
"There are two massive games coming up now and if we show that same quality, desire and togetherness then I'll be delighted."
Skipper Graeme Lee will miss Saturday's clash with leaders Wycombe after receiving his fifth yellow card.
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http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/yorkshire-soccer/Bradford-City-Hard-work-ahead.4959304.jp
Bradford City: Hard work ahead for 'excellent' City
Michael Boulding
Boss Stuart McCall insisted his Bradford City side wouldn't get complacent after they surged up to fifth place in League Two on the back of a 2-0 win over promotion rivals Gillingham.
Omar Daley and Michael Boulding were both on target at the Priestfield Stadium as the Bantams moved above their hosts and into the play-off zone.
City are now just five points adrift of table-toppers Wycombe Wanderers, who they entertain next Saturday.
McCall said: "The Gillingham game has gone now. We'll take confidence from it but we won't get complacent.
"There is a lot of hard work to do, but I felt the attitude and desire throughout the team was excellent at Gillingham."
Bradford started strongly and went close to opening the scoring after just four minutes when Daley crashed a shot into the side netting following a Nicky Law corner.
Michael Boulding then headed over when he should have done better and the same player had a shot well saved by Simon Royce in the 18th minute after Daley got the better of Gills right-back Stuart Lewis before delivering the ball into his path.
But the hosts had gone close themselves when Andy Barcham's cross was headed off target by Jaime Peters, and they thought they had taken the lead just after the half-hour mark.
Adam Miller's shot was saved by Rhys Evans and the ball rebounded to Simeon Jackson, who put it into an empty net only for referee Paul Taylor to blow up for offside.
At the other end, Daley had another great chance to give Bradford the lead on 37 minutes when he beat Lewis for pace on the left before cutting inside and firing wide.
But Bradford finally got the goal their possession deserved on the stroke of half-time when Boulding found himself in space on the right and crossed for Daley to slot the ball home.
City picked up where they left off at the start of the second half and almost doubled their advantage when Law broke through the middle before hitting a shot which was tipped round the post by Royce.
And they finally sealed it 20 minutes from time when Mark Bentley slipped attempting to clear Steve Jones' through ball, allowing Boulding to race through and slot the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.
McCall said: "That is the standard now. We have conceded one goal in open play in the last nine games and we've got to keep that going.
"Everyone throughout the side played well but it was nice to get the second goal to make us feel a little bit comfortable.
"We knew they'd come back against us once before this season, when they were two goals down, so we had to be careful."
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/7878878.stm
Daley hits back at fans criticism
Bradford City's Omar Daley has said he is strong enough to take the recent criticism aimed at him.
The Jamaican international midfielder, 27, responded to recent criticism from some supporters by scoring in City's 2-0 win at Gillingham on Saturday.
"The fans pay their money to come and see me," Daley told BBC Radio Leeds.
"I don't mind if they have a go, but have a go in the right way. They have to understand I can't run past four or five people every time I get the ball."
City manager Stuart McCall has already hit out this season, stating Daley in an easy target for fans frustration.
Daley added: "I try my best to train hard and get fitter and better.
"I have to do that because it's not easy in this league.
"I get two or three players coming to tackle me at once and that's hard to get past.
"There is no easy game for Omar because opposition players always come at me hard.
"The criticism hasn't got to me, I'm just working hard."
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The Gillingham view
http://www.gills365.co.uk/gills365v2/2009/02/07/full-time-thoughts-bradford-h/
Some pictures ...
http://www.kent-online.co.uk/kol08/article/default.asp?article_id=56751&slide_id=1
