npower League 2
United 2 Bradford City 0
United: Bevan; Robertson, Ellis, Branston, Nicholson, Zebroski, Wroe, Mansell, Stevens (O'Kane 90), Kee (Carlisle 56), Benyon (Gritton 90). Subs: Rowe-Turner, Macklin, Potter, Charnock.
Goals: Stevens, Zebroski
Bradford: McLaughlin; Oliver, Doherty (O'Brien 46), Hanson, Bullock, Hunt (Syers 77), Evans, Threlfall, Duff, Moult (Rehman 16), Adeyemi. Subs: Saxton, Daley, Chilaka, Williams.
Red Card: Threlfall
Att: 2,941
It may only be three league games into the season but there is daylight between United and the rest of League 2 right now after the Gulls dominated their encounter with Bradford City at Plainmoor. The final score was 2-0 but it flattered the visitors. The added bonus of the afternoon was the extension of United's clean sheet record to 961 minutes an amazing statistic the more you read it.
United got off to the perfect start; Danny Stevens collected the ball in his own half from a Lee Mansell header and carried the ball past a weak attempt at a tackle before striking a low right foot shot that McLaughlin in the Bradford goal inexplicably made no attempt to save and the ball rolled into the net after just one minute & thirty seconds.
Goal: United 1 (Stevens) Bradford 0
In the 11th minute there was more drama when Chris Zebroski was put through, he rounded McLaughlin and after a melee hit the outside of the post but the referee had seen a handball immediately before Zebs had shot and showed Threlfall a red card. Nicky Wroe placed the ball on the spot but his penalty was hit low and too centrally and McLaughlin saved with his legs.
United had been on the front foot from the start and with 15 minutes gone Bradford had rarely been in United's half let alone had a sight of Scott Bevan's goal.
Peter Taylor had to shuffle things about and put Rehman on to replace the unlucky Moult after 16 minutes in a bid to keep his defensive shape in place as United continued to batter their visitors.
United were on top in all departments and their excellent start was typified by a Chris Zebroski run down the right which was topped off with a superb cross but it was too good for his team mates who had struggled to keep up with his pacey attack.
With Bradford creaking United forced a fine save from McLaughlin who lunched away a superbly struck, swerving Lee Mansell right foot 20 yard volley.
As the first half ticked away the pattern of the match remained the same; United dominating possession with Bradford struggling to gain any foothold in the match although Evans tested Bevan with a low shot on the angle from 12 yards but Bevs palmed the ball away to safety.
Half-Time: United 1 Bradford 0
No changes at the break for United but Peter Taylor made a change with Tommy Doherty making way for Luke O'Brien.
Bradford had their first period of pressure of any kind immediately after the restart but it was United who were first to test the 'keepers. Elliot Benyon flashed a right foot shot just past the right post and Kevin Nicholson forced McLaughlin into a good tip over with a 25 yard left foot drive after a quick Lee Mansell free-kick.
In the 56th minute there was a welcome return to Plainmoor action for Wayne Carlisle when he came on to replace Billy Kee. This change meant that Chris Zebroski moved up to support Elliot Benyon in attack with Wayne taking his usual position on the right of midfield.
On the hour mark United nearly doubled the lead; Wayne Carlisle fed a lovely weighted ball inside the full back to release Chris Robertson who skipped inside Duff before crossing low for Elliot Benyon who got his effort on target despite a last ditch tackle but it his McLaughlin on the chest and bounced kindly for the Bradford 'keeper who gathered at the second attempt.
United didn't have to wait much longer to finally take complete control of the match. Another period of Gulls' pressure was finished off in an unlikely manner when a flick off Nicky Wroe's heel dropped halfway between Chris Zebroski and City 'keeper McLaughlin who got to the ball fractionally earlier than Zebs but the ball hit the United striker and bounced into an empty net.
Goal: United 2 (Zebroski) Bradford 0
It was all United now and Mark Ellis will be disappointed not to have got a header on target after getting on the end of a Nicholson cross.
Scott Bevan was finally called into action again in the 72nd minute and produced a fine save to deny Hanson. United then picked up two yellow cards in quick succession with Guy Branston & Nicky Wroe falling foul of the referee.
United were coasting now but were still creating some very good attacking opportunities and Bradford were restricted to the very minimum of possession at the other end. In the closing stages Lee Mansell cleared a header off the line as Bradford made a last ditch effort to grab something from the afternoon. Martin Gritton made a return from injury in the final minute when he replaced Elliot Benyon in a straight swap up front.
Full -Time: United 2 Bradford 0
Bradford had no answer to United's slicker passing and harder work rate, United travel to Port Vale next weekend for another tough encounter.
