Bradford City 4-2 Barnet - Npower League Two
Saturday 27th August 2011 - The Coral Stadium - Attendance: 9,656 (120 Visitors)
So for the first time since Monday 25th April, Bradford City have won a game! Okay it was a 4-2 home win over Barnet who are the favourites for the drop, but it was still a win!
Ahead of the game, I went to pick up my L***s v Bradford DVD (Courtesy of Rhino Pete) & met some of the team, discovered L***s got another money making cup tie at home to Manchester United (Lucky!) & got Jack Compton to sign my (Voltage Cherry) away shirt & even had the chance to read my question posed to Ross Hannah in the match day programme!
The highlight of pre-match though was Guy Branston questioning whether Carribob was my uncle or I was pulling his leg! He says we need to have a forum on the matter! Haha!
After heading into the ground with Tom & Carribob, tucking into our brand new Chicken Balti Pie in the process (still a con though) I met up with Jonny, James, Bradley & of course Loyal himself Ben! The teams then entered VP for the game ahead.
The game got underway & both teams looked as good (or poor) as each other in the early goings with both sides hoofing before the both started playing it on the deck, from the on we had a game. Barnet became the fourth side this season to score from a low cross across the box after a Marshall cross was turned in by the always deadly Izale McLeod in the 15th minute.
City needed an urgent pick me up, especially after this week! That pick me up came just 70 seconds later as a City attack ended with Hanson heading the Bantams level in the 16th minute. Quality build up & a even better Mitchell assist provided the goal. For the next 5-10 minutes, Barnet midfielder Mark Byrne ran the show & kept, well attempting to challenge Oscar Jansson in the City goal. Then a Jack Compton cross saw Hanson nearly volley us into the lead on the half hour mark.
Chris Mitchell's splendid curling free kick just went wide. However, it had Dean Brill well & truly beaten! And City should of had a penalty following a barge on Mark Stewart by Barnet defender Clovis Klamdjo.
Half time came & there wasn't much to talk about from Half Time except where is Billy Bantam! So the second half!
The Bantams dominated the second half & believe me it showed! A strong start to the half from City saw us win a corner three minutes in. Chris Mitchell floated the corner over to the head of Captain Guy Branston who put the ball past Dean Brill (worst keeper ever... Fact!) into the goal to put the Bantams into a 2-1 lead & from then on we never looked back!
Just five minutes later, another combination from the hard working Stewart & the set piece king Mitchell saw James Hanson presented with a tap in which he duly delivered to grab his second & put Bradford into a commanding 3-1 lead & more or less wrapped up the game! Barnet tried there best put City were too strong & Lawrie Sanchez had no option to make subs.
Then steward gate took place! A rather big lipped & goofy teethed steward made her way to the back of the stand & made me, Ben & James move... Why? So we couldn't block her view of the match! (Farce!) So, in an attempt to get our positions back & some room to move, me & Ben blocked her view! She then asked us to move before she said 'are you listening' to Ben. James then went onto say 'He's deaf, he uses the drum's vibrations to hear.' She then quite ferociously pushed Ben into me & Ben nearly took a trip down the flight of stairs in front of him! We then threatened her with Childline & her bosses in the police box to the left of us! So she moved back to the front of the stand.
Anyways, back to the game! City made it 4-1 & killed the game off after a wonderfully taken opportunity from the edge of the area from debutant & Bermuda international Nakhi Wells. Before Barnet slightly killed the mood with a scruffy 93rd minute consolation from Izale McLeod.
So, lets move onto the player ratings:
Oscar Jansson - 6 - More solid than Hansen, when he had a shot to save though he did! Bit slow on Barnet's 93rd minute consolation though.
Liam Moore - 5 - After last weeks performance did let himself down a bit today. Far too easily turned & out paced by Barnet winger Mark Marshall.
Guy Branston - 7 - Despite questioning mine & Carribob's relation, he finally pushed on & lead by example with tough defending & his second half header which led the Bantams on to victory.
Luke Oliver - 6 - After two MOTM performances in the last three games, had a quiet game today! But along with Branno kept one of our divisions most prolific strikers in Izale McLeod quiet for most of the afternoon.
Robbie Threlfall - 5 - Despite rumours he's only playing to be advertised in the shop window, he had a quiet afternoon & at times I forgot he was there!
Chris Mitchell - 8 - A fantastic performance by the Scottish Under 21 international this afternoon! His assists & set pieces helped us to the three points.
Michael Flynn - 6 - A good solid showing in the centre of park by the former Huddersfield Town man this afternoon.
Ritchie Jones - 6 - A good solid showing in the centre of park by the former Manchester United man this afternoon.
Jack Compton - 5 - With the exception of the assist to Hanson's near goal in the first half, didn't have the best of games. Still though, wasn't the worst player on the bench courtesy of 9 of the opposition.
James Hanson - 7 - Hot & Cold today. Got two goals which helped us to win, yet on the flip side he should of tucked the volley set up by Compton & is still getting bullied by centre backs.
Mark Stewart - 8 - My MOTM this afternoon. Never gave up & chased every ball fed to him & even Hanson! Didn't deserved to be subbed, but if he hadn't we would have been in for a nervy two minutes after Barnet's second!
SUB:
Nahki Wells - 6 - Heading off to international duty with Bermuda after a good sub appearance in which he scored City's fourth & final goal.
To finish of the blog, our new Ten Catergories chosen by Chapalar:
Was it worth the money? To see City's first three points? Of course it was!
City MOTM - It was a toss up between Mitchell & Stewart but Stewart just wins it for me!
Barnet MOTM - Mark Byrne, only one who didn't give up following the first half equaliser.
Quote of the Match - 'He's deaf, he uses the drum's vibrations to hear.'
Goal of the Match - Guy Branston's header!
Moment of the Match - The reaction following Nahki Wells goal.
Fan of the Match - The Barnet fan singing Beeeeee Army on his own!
Chant of the Match - The ever annoying 'Beeeee Army!'
FB Status of the Match - Period pains? Try support Bradford city by Ellis Lee.
Referee Watch - Gary Sutton, good game & got every decision spot on bar the Mark Stewart penalty incident in the first half.
And a debut for Fatwatch, this weeks winner is of course:
Barnet's kitman/coach... Keep eating those pies lad!
Saturday 27th August 2011 - The Coral Stadium - Attendance: 9,656 (120 Visitors)
So for the first time since Monday 25th April, Bradford City have won a game! Okay it was a 4-2 home win over Barnet who are the favourites for the drop, but it was still a win!
Ahead of the game, I went to pick up my L***s v Bradford DVD (Courtesy of Rhino Pete) & met some of the team, discovered L***s got another money making cup tie at home to Manchester United (Lucky!) & got Jack Compton to sign my (Voltage Cherry) away shirt & even had the chance to read my question posed to Ross Hannah in the match day programme!
The highlight of pre-match though was Guy Branston questioning whether Carribob was my uncle or I was pulling his leg! He says we need to have a forum on the matter! Haha!
After heading into the ground with Tom & Carribob, tucking into our brand new Chicken Balti Pie in the process (still a con though) I met up with Jonny, James, Bradley & of course Loyal himself Ben! The teams then entered VP for the game ahead.
The game got underway & both teams looked as good (or poor) as each other in the early goings with both sides hoofing before the both started playing it on the deck, from the on we had a game. Barnet became the fourth side this season to score from a low cross across the box after a Marshall cross was turned in by the always deadly Izale McLeod in the 15th minute.
City needed an urgent pick me up, especially after this week! That pick me up came just 70 seconds later as a City attack ended with Hanson heading the Bantams level in the 16th minute. Quality build up & a even better Mitchell assist provided the goal. For the next 5-10 minutes, Barnet midfielder Mark Byrne ran the show & kept, well attempting to challenge Oscar Jansson in the City goal. Then a Jack Compton cross saw Hanson nearly volley us into the lead on the half hour mark.
Chris Mitchell's splendid curling free kick just went wide. However, it had Dean Brill well & truly beaten! And City should of had a penalty following a barge on Mark Stewart by Barnet defender Clovis Klamdjo.
Half time came & there wasn't much to talk about from Half Time except where is Billy Bantam! So the second half!
The Bantams dominated the second half & believe me it showed! A strong start to the half from City saw us win a corner three minutes in. Chris Mitchell floated the corner over to the head of Captain Guy Branston who put the ball past Dean Brill (worst keeper ever... Fact!) into the goal to put the Bantams into a 2-1 lead & from then on we never looked back!
Just five minutes later, another combination from the hard working Stewart & the set piece king Mitchell saw James Hanson presented with a tap in which he duly delivered to grab his second & put Bradford into a commanding 3-1 lead & more or less wrapped up the game! Barnet tried there best put City were too strong & Lawrie Sanchez had no option to make subs.
Then steward gate took place! A rather big lipped & goofy teethed steward made her way to the back of the stand & made me, Ben & James move... Why? So we couldn't block her view of the match! (Farce!) So, in an attempt to get our positions back & some room to move, me & Ben blocked her view! She then asked us to move before she said 'are you listening' to Ben. James then went onto say 'He's deaf, he uses the drum's vibrations to hear.' She then quite ferociously pushed Ben into me & Ben nearly took a trip down the flight of stairs in front of him! We then threatened her with Childline & her bosses in the police box to the left of us! So she moved back to the front of the stand.
Anyways, back to the game! City made it 4-1 & killed the game off after a wonderfully taken opportunity from the edge of the area from debutant & Bermuda international Nakhi Wells. Before Barnet slightly killed the mood with a scruffy 93rd minute consolation from Izale McLeod.
So, lets move onto the player ratings:
Oscar Jansson - 6 - More solid than Hansen, when he had a shot to save though he did! Bit slow on Barnet's 93rd minute consolation though.
Liam Moore - 5 - After last weeks performance did let himself down a bit today. Far too easily turned & out paced by Barnet winger Mark Marshall.
Guy Branston - 7 - Despite questioning mine & Carribob's relation, he finally pushed on & lead by example with tough defending & his second half header which led the Bantams on to victory.
Luke Oliver - 6 - After two MOTM performances in the last three games, had a quiet game today! But along with Branno kept one of our divisions most prolific strikers in Izale McLeod quiet for most of the afternoon.
Robbie Threlfall - 5 - Despite rumours he's only playing to be advertised in the shop window, he had a quiet afternoon & at times I forgot he was there!
Chris Mitchell - 8 - A fantastic performance by the Scottish Under 21 international this afternoon! His assists & set pieces helped us to the three points.
Michael Flynn - 6 - A good solid showing in the centre of park by the former Huddersfield Town man this afternoon.
Ritchie Jones - 6 - A good solid showing in the centre of park by the former Manchester United man this afternoon.
Jack Compton - 5 - With the exception of the assist to Hanson's near goal in the first half, didn't have the best of games. Still though, wasn't the worst player on the bench courtesy of 9 of the opposition.
James Hanson - 7 - Hot & Cold today. Got two goals which helped us to win, yet on the flip side he should of tucked the volley set up by Compton & is still getting bullied by centre backs.
Mark Stewart - 8 - My MOTM this afternoon. Never gave up & chased every ball fed to him & even Hanson! Didn't deserved to be subbed, but if he hadn't we would have been in for a nervy two minutes after Barnet's second!
SUB:
Nahki Wells - 6 - Heading off to international duty with Bermuda after a good sub appearance in which he scored City's fourth & final goal.
To finish of the blog, our new Ten Catergories chosen by Chapalar:
Was it worth the money? To see City's first three points? Of course it was!
City MOTM - It was a toss up between Mitchell & Stewart but Stewart just wins it for me!
Barnet MOTM - Mark Byrne, only one who didn't give up following the first half equaliser.
Quote of the Match - 'He's deaf, he uses the drum's vibrations to hear.'
Goal of the Match - Guy Branston's header!
Moment of the Match - The reaction following Nahki Wells goal.
Fan of the Match - The Barnet fan singing Beeeeee Army on his own!
Chant of the Match - The ever annoying 'Beeeee Army!'
FB Status of the Match - Period pains? Try support Bradford city by Ellis Lee.
Referee Watch - Gary Sutton, good game & got every decision spot on bar the Mark Stewart penalty incident in the first half.
And a debut for Fatwatch, this weeks winner is of course:
Barnet's kitman/coach... Keep eating those pies lad!