Bradford City v Lincoln City, 1 February 2011

Venue: Coral Windows Stadium, Bradford

Attendance: 10,543

Final score: 1-2

Exactly a month ago to the day, Lincoln started the new year in poor fashion, losing 2-1 to Bradford at Sincil Bank.  This evening revenge was sweet as Lincoln recorded a fourth successive win – a run that seemed impossible a month ago.

The Imps had been busy on transfer deadline day, with a few new faces appearing, and more notably two disappearing.  Moses Swaibu, not the player he once was, had his contract terminated by mutual consent.  More surprising was the departure of hardworking midfielder Scott Kerr, who has signed for York City.  Tonight’s game would have been Kerr’s 250^th in a City shirt, and his departure means that no players are left at Lincoln from the reign of the late, great Keith Alexander.

An injury during the warmup to Adam Watts meant a late shuffle to the city side, and Stephen Hunt moved to the centre of defence.  New face Patrick Kanyuka began in central midfield.

Lincoln have a habit of starting badly against the Bantams, and so it was to prove again.  After a bright opening, with both sides attacking, Bradford broke the City defence with only 6 minutes on the clock.  Syers put the ball into the box from wide, and Hanson was waiting to finish from 6 yards out.

The home side continued to have the better of the opening exchanges , with Carson the busier goalkeeper.  City were not out of the match, however, and had their own forays into the Bradford half, the most notable chance being Kanyuka firing over the bar at full stretch.

City’s equalizer came three minutes before the break.  A deep cross by Hoyte was met with a powerful header by captain Delroy Facey.  City were perhaps fortunate to be going in at the break level.

Lincoln made one change at half time, with one new signing replacing another – Ali Fuseini replacing Patrick Kanyuka in midfield.

The equalizer had given the Imps more confidence and the second half began on more even terms, with Grimes and McCallum both testing Bradford keeper McLaughlin.  The Imps finally took the lead in the 79^th minute when the lively Fuseini put Grimes through.  The Imps’ man of the moment saw his shot saved, but the ball fell to McCallum, who took a touch before firing home to give the Imps a 2-1 lead.

The large home crowd was becoming restless as Bradford pushed forward once more to try and find an equalizer.  Despite having most of the possession in the final ten minutes though, the home side could not fashion any clear cut chances and the Imps held on for yet another valuable victory.

Bradford City

1. Jon Mclaughlin
3. Luke O'brien
6. Luke Oliver
7. Omar Daley
9. Gareth Evans
16. Shane Duff
17. James Hanson
19. Jon Worthington
20. Tom Adeyemi
23. David Syers
29. Richard Eckersley

Substitutes:
4. Michael Flynn for Worthington (68)
30. Mark Cullen for Daley (82)
2. Simon Ramsden
15. Lewis Hunt
25. Chib Chilaka
28. Robbie Threlfall
24. Chris Elliott

Lincoln City

24. Trevor Carson
28. Gavin Hoyte
23. Stephen Hunt
6. Danny Hone
16. Julian Kelly
40. Patrick Kanyuka
14. Josh O'keefe
15. Luke Howell
9. Gavin McCallum
18. Delroy Facey
29. Ashley Grimes
Substitutes:
31. Ali Fuseini for Kanyuka (H/T)
10. Drewe Broughton for Facey (78)
39. Scott Spencer for Grimes (90+2)
2. Paul Green
17. Albert Jarrett
20. Paul Musselwhite

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