Post by gazz on Feb 21, 2015 1:11:03 GMT
Off target Hatters denied by Bradford
The Hatters travelled to The Horsfall Stadium to face Bradford Park Avenue in this rearranged fixture from late December, in what was the hosts first home game since December 15th.
Both teams came into the game on the back of County Cup wins on the Monday evening, and manager Alan Lord made several changes as he utilises his squad being in the middle of a tough six games in 14 days.
It wouldn't be unfair to say the game wasn't set up to be a classic - a heavy wind swirled around the ground and with a bobbly pitch to play on it was never going to be pretty.
Kristian Dennis had County's best effort of the first half with a long range free-kick from 35 yards out. Dennis struck it low and hard through a crowded penalty box only to see it tipped round the post for a corner by Bradford number one John Danby.
The resulting corner was cleared behind instantly earning a second which Scott Duxbury swung in, and following a bout of penalty box pinball, the ball fell for Danny Glover who managed to get his shot away only to see it deflected behind for a goal-kick.
With five minutes to the break Hurst was tested for the first time, a cross from the right took a wicked deflection and the keeper needed all of his six foot plus frame to scoop the ball from under the crossbar and over for a corner.
With one additional minute being added on at the end of the first half, Bradford had one final foray forward. Winger Richard Marshall got down the left and into the County area where he was adjudged to have been tripped by captain Mark Lees. Referee Tom Bramhall pointed to the spot and Marshall dusted himself off to take the kick himself, sending Hurst the wrong way to give the hosts the lead with virtually the last kick of the half.
Half-Time Bradford PA 1-0 Stockport County
A double substitution at the start of the second half saw Jack Ryan and Greg Wilkinson replace Nathan Woolfe and Chris Sharp. This brought fresh legs into the County attack and Dennis almost took advantage early on after his neat turn and half-volley whistled past the far post.
Dennis again went close with a header at the near post from a Glover free-kick, while Glover himself saw an effort wide of the post.
It was becoming a theme, with County having the majority of possession and creating chances but unable to find the target, Wilkinson was next to attempt a shot on goal but his free-kick from the edge of the area was blazed over the crossbar.
As the game wore on County were left to rue the missed chances when Luke Dean scored a freak second to seal the game and give Bradford the three points, he went into a tackle with Kyle Jacobs 35 yards from goal and hoofed the ball towards Danny Hurst's goal which looped over the keepers head and found the back of the net.
Not the result or performance Alan Lord was hoping for as The Hatters missed out on the chance of reaching a play-off position for the first time since November, and he'll be looking for a reaction from his players when they travel to Kidderminster to face Worcester this Saturday.
Full-Time
Bradford PA 2: Richard Marshall 45 pen, Luke Dean 85,
Stockport County 0:
Stockport County: Hurst, Jacobs, Duxbury, Moses, Lees, O'Halloran, Woolfe (Wilkinson 46), Glover, Dennis, Sharp (Ryan 46), Baker.
Subs not used: Todd, Lofthouse, Ormson.
Attendance: 553
Bookings: Ryan, Jacobs
The Hatters travelled to The Horsfall Stadium to face Bradford Park Avenue in this rearranged fixture from late December, in what was the hosts first home game since December 15th.
Both teams came into the game on the back of County Cup wins on the Monday evening, and manager Alan Lord made several changes as he utilises his squad being in the middle of a tough six games in 14 days.
It wouldn't be unfair to say the game wasn't set up to be a classic - a heavy wind swirled around the ground and with a bobbly pitch to play on it was never going to be pretty.
Kristian Dennis had County's best effort of the first half with a long range free-kick from 35 yards out. Dennis struck it low and hard through a crowded penalty box only to see it tipped round the post for a corner by Bradford number one John Danby.
The resulting corner was cleared behind instantly earning a second which Scott Duxbury swung in, and following a bout of penalty box pinball, the ball fell for Danny Glover who managed to get his shot away only to see it deflected behind for a goal-kick.
With five minutes to the break Hurst was tested for the first time, a cross from the right took a wicked deflection and the keeper needed all of his six foot plus frame to scoop the ball from under the crossbar and over for a corner.
With one additional minute being added on at the end of the first half, Bradford had one final foray forward. Winger Richard Marshall got down the left and into the County area where he was adjudged to have been tripped by captain Mark Lees. Referee Tom Bramhall pointed to the spot and Marshall dusted himself off to take the kick himself, sending Hurst the wrong way to give the hosts the lead with virtually the last kick of the half.
Half-Time Bradford PA 1-0 Stockport County
A double substitution at the start of the second half saw Jack Ryan and Greg Wilkinson replace Nathan Woolfe and Chris Sharp. This brought fresh legs into the County attack and Dennis almost took advantage early on after his neat turn and half-volley whistled past the far post.
Dennis again went close with a header at the near post from a Glover free-kick, while Glover himself saw an effort wide of the post.
It was becoming a theme, with County having the majority of possession and creating chances but unable to find the target, Wilkinson was next to attempt a shot on goal but his free-kick from the edge of the area was blazed over the crossbar.
As the game wore on County were left to rue the missed chances when Luke Dean scored a freak second to seal the game and give Bradford the three points, he went into a tackle with Kyle Jacobs 35 yards from goal and hoofed the ball towards Danny Hurst's goal which looped over the keepers head and found the back of the net.
Not the result or performance Alan Lord was hoping for as The Hatters missed out on the chance of reaching a play-off position for the first time since November, and he'll be looking for a reaction from his players when they travel to Kidderminster to face Worcester this Saturday.
Full-Time
Bradford PA 2: Richard Marshall 45 pen, Luke Dean 85,
Stockport County 0:
Stockport County: Hurst, Jacobs, Duxbury, Moses, Lees, O'Halloran, Woolfe (Wilkinson 46), Glover, Dennis, Sharp (Ryan 46), Baker.
Subs not used: Todd, Lofthouse, Ormson.
Attendance: 553
Bookings: Ryan, Jacobs
