BRADFORD CITY AFC

Tuesday 19 August 2014
Sky Bet League 1
Crawley Town 1 (Walsh 55)
Bradford City 3 (Hanson 50, Knott 62, Bennett 77)
Kick Off: 7.45pm
at the Checkatrade.com Stadium

Attendance: 2,285 (284 visitors)

The Bantams produced a commanding away performance at the Checkatrade.com Stadium to deservedly inflict a first defeat of the season on hosts Crawley Town and keep their own unbeaten start to the campaign intact.

Second half goals from James Hanson, Billy Knott and Mason Bennett saw Phil Parkinson's men run out convincing winners over a side who hadn't conceded a goal in their previous three league and cup games so far this term.

Following a largely evenly-matched opening period, City earned the vital breakthrough five minutes after the break when Stephen Darby's low cross into the area eventually landed at the feet of Hanson.

The giant striker shifted the ball onto his favoured left foot before rifling a vicious strike into the roof of the net from around ten yards out.

Despite City making an encouraging start to the second period, Crawley managed to drag themselves level five minutes later when Joe Walsh glanced a header into the far corner direct from a Ryan Dickson corner.

City bounced back from that blow, however, to retake the lead just past the hour mark through a first Bradford goal for Knott.

Knott played a neat one-two with Filipe Morais before fizzing in a strike on the half-volley from outside the box that whistled past a rooted Brian Jensen and found the net via the inside of his far post.

With City looking more in control as the half progressed, Jason Kennedy hit the woodwork later in the second period when his outstretched boot turned a driven Alan Sheehan cross against Jensen's crossbar.

The Bantams made the points secure thirteen minutes from the end of normal time when Bennett out-paced Welsh to latch onto a Hanson header on from Jordan Pickford's goal-kick before calmly lifting the ball over the diving frame of Jensen.

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FT: Crawley Town 1 Bradford City 3
90min: There will be four minutes of time added on at the end of the match.
87min: Bennett's centre across the box finds Hanson and the striker sees his goal-bound shot deflected over the bar by the outstretched leg of Oyebanjo.
82min: Yeates receives the ball from Hanson just outside Crawley's penalty area but, after switching the ball onto his left foot, the Irishman's shot for goal goes well high and wide of its intended target.
80min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Matthew Dolan for Knott.
77min: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crawley Town 1 Bradford City 3 - The Bantams double their lead through Bennett! The City attacker beats Walsh to a Hanson flick-on before clipping the ball over Jensen and into the net as the 'keeper dived out at his feet.
73min: SUB - Crawley bring on Charles Banya for Sonny Bradley.
73min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Mark Yeates for Morais.
71min: Kennedy hits the bar! Sheehan's power shot-come-cross across the area reaches Kennedy, who stretches out a leg to divert the bar up onto Jensen's crossbar.
68min: YELLOW CARD - Oyebanjo is booked for catching Davies late in the air as the Bantams defender headed away a Crawley cross into the penalty area.
62min: GOAL!!!!!!! Crawley Town 1 Bradford City 2 - The Bantams retake the lead through Knott! The midfielder plays a quick one-two with Morais before drilling in a stunning first-time strike on the bounce from outside the box that leaves Jensen rooted and finds the goal via the inside of the far post.
61min: Bennett's pull back inside the area sees the ball drop into the path of Morais. The Portuguese attacker sees his effort blocked, however, before Knott fires over the loose ball from just inside the area on the rebound.
58min: SUB - Crawley bring on Conor Henderson for Edwards.
57min: YELLOW CARD - Sheehan is booked for taking a City free-kick too quickly, with referee Berry seeming to suggest that the Irish defender should have waited for his whistle.
55min: GOAL - Crawley Town 1 Bradford City 1 - The Bantams' lead last less than five minutes, however, as home defender Joe Walsh glances a header into the far corner directly from a Dickson corner.
50min: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crawley Town 0 Bradford City 1 - The Bantams take the lead of the match early in the second period! Darby's low cross into the area eventually drops into the path of Hanson. The striker manages to switch the ball onto his left foot before rifling a strike into the roof of Jensen's net.
46min: The Bantams restart the match.
HT SUB - The Bantams bring on Mason Bennett for Mclean ahead of the second period.
HT: Crawley Town 0 Bradford City 0
45+1min: Morais strikes from distance but his shot, although well-hit, is straight at Jensen.
45+1min: City struggle to clear their lines from a Crawley corner late in the first period, resulting in Pickford making a save with his legs from a home effort.
45min: There will be one minute of time added on at the end of the first half.
45min: A dangerous surge forward from Edwards sees the attacker burst past Davies and into the Bantams penalty area. The sudden danger means Pickford must sprint out from his goal, with the shot-stopper making a vital last-ditch tackle with his legs as Edwards looks to knock the ball past him.
44min: James Hanson flicks on Davies' long ball forward into the path of Mclean but the striker's first time effort inside the box is blocked by the outstretched leg of Dean Leacock.
36min: Bobson Bawling fires for goal from some distance out but his low effort dribbles harmlessly away from Pickford's goal and the Bantams shot-stopper can gather up with relative ease.
32min: Liddle tries his luck from around 30 yards, with the effort sailing not too far away from Jensen's goal.
27min: Izale McLeod's headed flick-on from a big Jensen kick forward finds Tomlin in with shooting space behind City's defences. With a recovering Davies coming across to try and cover, Tomlin elects to shoot but fires his effort over the bar from around fourteen yards out.
25min: Knott's floated ball over the top finds Mclean in space behind Crawley's back-line around the edge of the area. The striker doesn't seem to think he has as much time as he actually does, however, and he decides to head the ball first time, resulting in the downward effort bouncing harmlessly wide of goal.
23min: YELLOW CARD - Morais is booked for clipping the heels of Gwion Edwards as Crawley attacker moved into City's half on the counter-attack.
22min: Filipe Morais' far post cross finds the lurking Billy Knott in space deep inside Crawley's penalty area. Knott volleys for goal, with the effort blocked behind for a corner seemingly by the arms of Lanre Oyebanjo. The contact seemed perhaps accidental at first glance but the ball certainly did appear to hit Oyebanjo's outstretched arms nevertheless. Apart from Knott, who perhaps had the best view of the incident, there doesn't seem to be too many protests coming from the City camp though and nothing is given other than the corner.
22min: Stephen Darby's hanging cross is met by a thumping header from Alan Sheehan but the effort is straight at Jensen.
14min: Mclean nearly has another sniff at goal as he closes down home 'keeper Brian Jensen as the big Dane comes out at his feet to claim the ball. Mclean manages to get the ball out of Jensen's grasp and seems set to tap home into an unguarded goal but referee Mr Berry pulls play back, seemingly suggesting Mclean kicked the ball out of Jensen's hands.
13min: Jimmy Smith's teasing in-swinging free-kick delivery from wide takes a flick off the head of Gary Liddle, meaning Jordan Pickford needs to fling himself across goal to pluck the ball out of the air to prevent it from possibly finding the top corner of his goal.
3min: Neat play on Crawley's left wing by Gavin Tomlin sees the striker play Ryan Dickson into shooting space deep inside the Bantams' box. As the left winger looks to get his feet in order, however, Jason Kennedy makes a vital interception from behind to cut out the danger.
2min: Andrew Davies' booming header forwards threatens for a second to get Aaron Mclean in behind Crawley's back-line. Crawley defender Joe Walsh eventually manages to clear as Mclean goes to strike but the loose ball drops into the path of the lurking Filipe Morais just outside the box. Morais lines up a shot but his bouncing half-volley sails wide.
0min: Crawley kick off the match.

CRAWLEY TOWN LINE UP
Jensen, Oyebanjo, Dickson, Leacock, Bradley, Walsh, Smith, Edwards, Bawling, Tomlin, McLeod

Subs: Henderson, Young, Banya, Essam, Rose, O'Connor, Richefond

Crawley Town cautions:
Oyebanjo (68)

Crawley Town changes:
Henderson for Edwards (58), Banya for Bradley (73)


BRADFORD CITY LINE UP
Pickford, Darby, McArdle, Davies, Sheehan, Liddle, Kennedy, Knott, Morais, Mclean, Hanson

Subs: Williams, Meredith, Dolan, Yeates, McBurnie, Routis, Bennett

Bradford City cautions
Morais (23), Sheehan (57)

Bradford City changes:
Bennett for Mclean (46), Yeates for Morais (73), Dolan for Knott (80)

MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: C Berry
Assistant Referee: W Bull
Assistant Referee: I Cooper
Fourth Official: D Blunden