BRADFORD CITY 2

ALDERSHOT TOWN 1

BRADFORD avenged their narrow defeat at Aldershot less than a fortnight ago, but the visitors played well enough to merit at least a draw and should have squared the game at two apiece when Marlon Jackson misdirected his header right in front of an unguarded goal.

Fellow substitute Marvin Morgan had set up the chance with a strong run and perfect cross from the left, but with keeper Matt Glennon drawn out of position, Jackson contrived to head wide from no more than two yards.

Despite a poor playing surface at Valley Parade, now unglamorously known as the Coral Windows Stadium, and a partisan crowd of 11,272, Aldershot started strongly and were in front after only eight minutes.

Glennon could only parry a shot from Scott Donnelly and the ball fell nicely for Anthony Straker who scored from a sharpish angle beyond the far post.

Bradford, in the midst of a rebuilding programme by Peter Taylor, the former England caretaker manager, made a positive response and Omar Daley, their Jamaican international, quickly forced a fingertip save from Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz, back in goal for Aldershot.

And it took the Lambs just six minutes to find an equaliser. Michael Flynn made good ground on the right before flighting in a pinpoint cross and James Hanson found space to crash an unstoppable header high into the net.

Eight minutes later, Aaron Brown marred an otherwise solid Aldershot debut with an error that resulted in Bradford's second goal. Luke O'Brien's cross was prodded by the former Reading defender straight to Daley who lashed a vicious left-foot shot into the top corner from some 22 yards.

Anthony Charles got on the end of Oliver Bozanic's cross to force a sharp save from Glennon and Aldershot looked like they had plenty more to offer in the second half, even though they lost Kirk Hudson to injury just before the break.

But although they saw plenty of the ball in the second half, Aldershot never carried the same threat to the home defence who had Wycombe loanee Luke Oliver, formerly of Woking, making an impressive debut.

The 6ft 7ins Oliver was an intimidating figure and lone striker Danny Hylton was probably relieved when Morgan came on to give him some much-needed muscular support.

But when Morgan created Aldershot's best chance of the half, Jackson headed woefully wide when it seemed easier to score.

Some of the tackling between two committed sides was not for the faint-hearted and at one stage Taylor and Kevin Dillon, the Aldershot boss, were seen to have a frank exchange of views.

City were content to concentrate on counter-attacks in this half and rely on Taylor's new-look defence to keep Aldershot at bay – and they performed that task very efficiently.

"I thought we played really well today," said Dillon. "The players were terrific and I wouldn't change any of their players for mine.

"I've always said we'd finish in the top ten and that would be over-achieving. I enjoyed the performance today because there was a real togetherness in the team and we took the game to them.

"We had them on the back foot and I thought we deserved a point at least. We nearly got there."

Peter Taylor said: "We started poorly and let in a sloppy goal, but it shows good character and togetherness to fight back and win because Aldershot are a good team."

Bradford: Glennon, Ramsden (Bateson 46), O'Brien, Clarke, Threlfall, Oliver, Flynn, Daley (Grant 65), Bullock, Bolder, Hanson. Subs (not used): McLaughlan, Williams, O'Leary, Evans, McCammon. Booked: Daley, Hanson.

Aldershot: Jaimez-Ruiz, Herd, Straker, Blackburn, Brown, Charles, Harding, Bozanic, Hylton (Spencer 78), Donnelly (Morgan 65), Hudson (Jackson 45). Subs (not used): Young, Howell, Soares, Riza. Booked: Straker.

Referee: Geoff Eltringham.

Attendance: 11,272.