Port Vale 3-2 Bradford City - Npower League Two
Tuesday 13th September 2011 - Vale Park - Attendance: 4769 (304 Visitors)
So, for the third City game in a row there was 93rd minute drama. Sadly it wasn't in our favour this time.
After a tedious & coke covered trip down from Bradford to BurSLUM we arrived at chav city that is Vale Park. They make the BU5's look gothic! So after confusing the youth team keeper with Glenn Morris & Martin Hansen (Really?) & the traditional Vale stewards row over flags & balls, the game got under way.
It was an actioned pack first half, it got under way with a Vale chance missed by Ben Williamson & Threlfall & Hanson both giving away sloppy free kicks but in the 5th minute the ball fell to Vale left back Robert Taylor who with a 25 yard curling screamer smashed Vale in front, good tekkers lad! Despite Vale dominance, Ried & Devitt tried there hardest to bring the Bantams back into the game & Oliver put a header wide, but for 15 minutes it didn't happen as Vale took advantage of our poor defence to have chance after chance but that changed.
In the 24th minute after some trickery & defence dodging by our new star loanee, Jamie Devitt curled the ball from outside the area into the top right hand corner to bring the Bantams level in a case of whatever you can do, I can do better! From the goal City found new life with Moore, Mitchell, Jones & Flynn trying to control play with Reid & Devitt but it sadly didn't pay off with Moore getting caught out in the midfield & Branston repeatedly coming out of position all but pushing Threlfall into the centre saw Vale's dominance return.
From a corner resulting from this poor defensive show saw Gary Roberts whip a corner in, which Duke rabbit punched away but from there it was downhill. Fresh off his early stage screamer Taylor looped the ball back in but most of both teams stood there in anticipation of it going over the crossbar but a crule dip caught Duke off guard & despite a pretty flimsy effort ended up going in off the back of an un-expecting Threlfall's head to put the home side back in front. Vale dominated & to the relief of everyone associated with VP, half time came.
Half time was a pretty dull affair with the exception of casually winding Becky up! So, to the second half.
The second half began with the third long range effort of the evening, A Anthony Griffith clearance fell to Ritchie Jones, from where Jones smashed it towards the goal & despite the poor efforts of Vale keeper Chris Martin, City were level once again.
After another 10 minutes of Vale trying to re-take the lead, it was City's turn to dominate the game. Reid & Devitt were beginning to cause real problems to the Vale defence who decided to turn attack in an attempt to give Vale the game back and if Devitt didn't get greedy it could of been 3-2 but he did & Mitchell showed his anger. In the meantime however with this happening, a double substitution by Micky Adams saw more attacking prowess added to the Vale side.
With the defense being pulled apart & the attack losing it's pace, Parko decided it was time for some subs off his own, starting with his now usual sub of Jack Compton for Kyel Reid. The next 5-10 minutes had not much to report other than a Flynn shot saved by Vale keeper Martin. Then, after another man of the match appearance by the loan superstar Devitt was brought to an end as he was replaced by Bermudan international & the returning Nahki Wells. A golden chance by Compton which was tipped onto the post by Martin & then missed following a stupid decision by the ever not reliable James Hanson was the last chance of the game for City as the later corners didn't produce.
On the way to the game, Albert said "Tom Pope plays for them & he always scores against us." Well, Albert was right after the attacking right side of Moore & Mitchell were caught out which dragged Branston out of position to which a cross was allowed to go in & allowed Pope to scored a 93rd minute looping header over Duke to make it 3-2 & win Vale the three points, which to be honest they deserved.
Only a few prank calls to report on the way home & after getting back into Bradford, it was home & bed time.
So, the City players ratings:
Matt Duke - 4 - Couldn't have done anything about the first & third goals but what on earth was he doing for the second? Rabbit punched & then was caught out in comically tragic style by the return shot. Poor decision making on his part.
Liam Moore - 4 - We need to switch it round & have him on the right wing & Mitchell at right back because Moore's attacking head keeps getting him caught out defensively & makes it harder for Mitchell to cover.
Guy Branston - 3 - Kept coming out of position & getting caught time & time again. Looked very poor & his pace is appalling. Need Williams back I say.
Luke Oliver - 5 - Despite conceding three goals had another good game at centre back. Looks solid, well one of the defence has too!
Robbie Threlfall - 4 - Keep's getting dragged into the old habit of hoofing it up to Hanson & the second goal was a comical tragedy.
Chris Mitchell - 4 - Despite playing right wing ends up playing right back most of the time because of Moore's attacking head & with Moore capable of playing down the wing, why not switch them round?
Michael Flynn - 4 - Looked tired last night & looked like his Taylor self, but with Jones playing in the middle with him, he can get away with it in the odd game but not all the time.
Ritchie Jones - 5 - Worked hard in the middle of the park & chipped in with a goal as well, but at times he looks poor maybe because he has to carry Flynn every now & again.
Kyel Reid - 6 - Had to do all the work for the pink army with Devitt. Caused Vale's attacked minded full backs problems but tires easily.
Jamie Devitt - 7 - MOTM - How this lad can not get into the Hull team is beyond belief! Whether we have Syers or not you know we'll miss him when he leaves! Worked his socks off & caused Vale problem after problem & showed some great tekkers to smash City level in the first half.
James Hanson - 3 - When, when will this lump be dropped onto the bench! Missed a great chance following Compton's shot & apart from that I forgot he was even on the pitch!
SUBS:
Jack Compton - 5 - After coming on for Reid, try to create & help the team forward but sadly couldn't & had a good chance tipped onto the post.
Nahki Wells - 4 - After coming on only had one or two touches of the ball so it's hard to rate him.
Ten Categories chosen by Chapalar:
Was it worth the money? Is Vale away ever worth the money? We always lose at Vale Park these days.
City MOTM - Jamie Devitt, caused Vale problems galore & worked his socks off showing tekkers & scoring a very special goal in the process.
Port Vale MOTM - Robert Taylor, the left back got two goals as well as keeping Moore & Mitchell quiet for the whole game before being subbed off.
Quote of the Match - Albert: 'I live next to that white house there,' Ayesha: 'What houses? Where are you looking? All I can see is tree's!'
Goal of the Match - Even though Devitt's goal was special it was sadly beaten by Robert Taylor's opening 25 yarder in the 5th minute.
Moment of the Match - Devitt & Taylor's goal are the joint winners. Both very special goals, not often you get them in League Two.
Fan of the Match - The geekiest 'firm' member I've ever seen! In his dopey (Seven Dwarfs) jumper & glasses, keep to the books lad.
Chant of the Match - 'You never sang anyway' - City to the very quiet Chav Army trying to make some noise.
FB Status of the Match - Bradford City, you are fucking inept to keeping clean sheets, and defending simple balls in and around the box. Complete and utter joke. - Josh Spruyt
Referee Watch - Dean Whitestone didn't have much to do & had a quiet evening & a good game.
And finally...
FATWATCH - The Vale fan in the middle of their main stand in the grey tracksuit, Chav Army!
Tuesday 13th September 2011 - Vale Park - Attendance: 4769 (304 Visitors)
So, for the third City game in a row there was 93rd minute drama. Sadly it wasn't in our favour this time.
After a tedious & coke covered trip down from Bradford to BurSLUM we arrived at chav city that is Vale Park. They make the BU5's look gothic! So after confusing the youth team keeper with Glenn Morris & Martin Hansen (Really?) & the traditional Vale stewards row over flags & balls, the game got under way.
It was an actioned pack first half, it got under way with a Vale chance missed by Ben Williamson & Threlfall & Hanson both giving away sloppy free kicks but in the 5th minute the ball fell to Vale left back Robert Taylor who with a 25 yard curling screamer smashed Vale in front, good tekkers lad! Despite Vale dominance, Ried & Devitt tried there hardest to bring the Bantams back into the game & Oliver put a header wide, but for 15 minutes it didn't happen as Vale took advantage of our poor defence to have chance after chance but that changed.
In the 24th minute after some trickery & defence dodging by our new star loanee, Jamie Devitt curled the ball from outside the area into the top right hand corner to bring the Bantams level in a case of whatever you can do, I can do better! From the goal City found new life with Moore, Mitchell, Jones & Flynn trying to control play with Reid & Devitt but it sadly didn't pay off with Moore getting caught out in the midfield & Branston repeatedly coming out of position all but pushing Threlfall into the centre saw Vale's dominance return.
From a corner resulting from this poor defensive show saw Gary Roberts whip a corner in, which Duke rabbit punched away but from there it was downhill. Fresh off his early stage screamer Taylor looped the ball back in but most of both teams stood there in anticipation of it going over the crossbar but a crule dip caught Duke off guard & despite a pretty flimsy effort ended up going in off the back of an un-expecting Threlfall's head to put the home side back in front. Vale dominated & to the relief of everyone associated with VP, half time came.
Half time was a pretty dull affair with the exception of casually winding Becky up! So, to the second half.
The second half began with the third long range effort of the evening, A Anthony Griffith clearance fell to Ritchie Jones, from where Jones smashed it towards the goal & despite the poor efforts of Vale keeper Chris Martin, City were level once again.
After another 10 minutes of Vale trying to re-take the lead, it was City's turn to dominate the game. Reid & Devitt were beginning to cause real problems to the Vale defence who decided to turn attack in an attempt to give Vale the game back and if Devitt didn't get greedy it could of been 3-2 but he did & Mitchell showed his anger. In the meantime however with this happening, a double substitution by Micky Adams saw more attacking prowess added to the Vale side.
With the defense being pulled apart & the attack losing it's pace, Parko decided it was time for some subs off his own, starting with his now usual sub of Jack Compton for Kyel Reid. The next 5-10 minutes had not much to report other than a Flynn shot saved by Vale keeper Martin. Then, after another man of the match appearance by the loan superstar Devitt was brought to an end as he was replaced by Bermudan international & the returning Nahki Wells. A golden chance by Compton which was tipped onto the post by Martin & then missed following a stupid decision by the ever not reliable James Hanson was the last chance of the game for City as the later corners didn't produce.
On the way to the game, Albert said "Tom Pope plays for them & he always scores against us." Well, Albert was right after the attacking right side of Moore & Mitchell were caught out which dragged Branston out of position to which a cross was allowed to go in & allowed Pope to scored a 93rd minute looping header over Duke to make it 3-2 & win Vale the three points, which to be honest they deserved.
Only a few prank calls to report on the way home & after getting back into Bradford, it was home & bed time.
So, the City players ratings:
Matt Duke - 4 - Couldn't have done anything about the first & third goals but what on earth was he doing for the second? Rabbit punched & then was caught out in comically tragic style by the return shot. Poor decision making on his part.
Liam Moore - 4 - We need to switch it round & have him on the right wing & Mitchell at right back because Moore's attacking head keeps getting him caught out defensively & makes it harder for Mitchell to cover.
Guy Branston - 3 - Kept coming out of position & getting caught time & time again. Looked very poor & his pace is appalling. Need Williams back I say.
Luke Oliver - 5 - Despite conceding three goals had another good game at centre back. Looks solid, well one of the defence has too!
Robbie Threlfall - 4 - Keep's getting dragged into the old habit of hoofing it up to Hanson & the second goal was a comical tragedy.
Chris Mitchell - 4 - Despite playing right wing ends up playing right back most of the time because of Moore's attacking head & with Moore capable of playing down the wing, why not switch them round?
Michael Flynn - 4 - Looked tired last night & looked like his Taylor self, but with Jones playing in the middle with him, he can get away with it in the odd game but not all the time.
Ritchie Jones - 5 - Worked hard in the middle of the park & chipped in with a goal as well, but at times he looks poor maybe because he has to carry Flynn every now & again.
Kyel Reid - 6 - Had to do all the work for the pink army with Devitt. Caused Vale's attacked minded full backs problems but tires easily.
Jamie Devitt - 7 - MOTM - How this lad can not get into the Hull team is beyond belief! Whether we have Syers or not you know we'll miss him when he leaves! Worked his socks off & caused Vale problem after problem & showed some great tekkers to smash City level in the first half.
James Hanson - 3 - When, when will this lump be dropped onto the bench! Missed a great chance following Compton's shot & apart from that I forgot he was even on the pitch!
SUBS:
Jack Compton - 5 - After coming on for Reid, try to create & help the team forward but sadly couldn't & had a good chance tipped onto the post.
Nahki Wells - 4 - After coming on only had one or two touches of the ball so it's hard to rate him.
Ten Categories chosen by Chapalar:
Was it worth the money? Is Vale away ever worth the money? We always lose at Vale Park these days.
City MOTM - Jamie Devitt, caused Vale problems galore & worked his socks off showing tekkers & scoring a very special goal in the process.
Port Vale MOTM - Robert Taylor, the left back got two goals as well as keeping Moore & Mitchell quiet for the whole game before being subbed off.
Quote of the Match - Albert: 'I live next to that white house there,' Ayesha: 'What houses? Where are you looking? All I can see is tree's!'
Goal of the Match - Even though Devitt's goal was special it was sadly beaten by Robert Taylor's opening 25 yarder in the 5th minute.
Moment of the Match - Devitt & Taylor's goal are the joint winners. Both very special goals, not often you get them in League Two.
Fan of the Match - The geekiest 'firm' member I've ever seen! In his dopey (Seven Dwarfs) jumper & glasses, keep to the books lad.
Chant of the Match - 'You never sang anyway' - City to the very quiet Chav Army trying to make some noise.
FB Status of the Match - Bradford City, you are fucking inept to keeping clean sheets, and defending simple balls in and around the box. Complete and utter joke. - Josh Spruyt
Referee Watch - Dean Whitestone didn't have much to do & had a quiet evening & a good game.
And finally...
FATWATCH - The Vale fan in the middle of their main stand in the grey tracksuit, Chav Army!