Bradford 2 - 2 Notts County - Match Report

Johnstone's Paint Trophy - Second Round

Tuesday 6th October 2009

The member of the Notts County staff that leapt down the touchline infront of the home fans, as Delroy Facey netted what he thought was a match winning goal in the 85th minute, really does need to learn the meaning of the phrase 'its not over until the final whistle' as his side were dumped out of the Johnstone's Paint trophy on penalties after a late equaliser from Chris Brandon handed Bradford a lifeline.

The 3,701 fans that turned up on this wet Tuesday night were treated to an entertaining cup tie even if the game was played under difficult, boggy conditions, following late deluge of rain in the afternoon that left the pitch particularly boggy infront of the Sunwin stand.

In the first half City controlled matters but to their surprise found themselves a goal behind when Craig Westcarr caught the City defence napping and sidestepped Simon Eastwood to roll home in the 10th minute.

After then, City created the better chances throughout the remainder of the first half, Michael Flynn drove over the bar from 25 yards, and Luke O'Brien's cross was nearly turned into his own net by Mike Edwards but it was Michael Boulding - making the most of his recall to the team at the expense of the suspended Gareth Evans - that levelled matters, collecting a long punt from Flynn after former City skipper Graeme Lee had got caught under the ball, before rolling in past Kasper Schmeichel. The big Dane looked like his goalkeeping jersey had been stuffed with banknotes he was that big, and as he collapsed to the ground and two of his teammates slid back onto the line to try save his bacon, the ball somehow managed to trickle over the line in the 20th minute.

Simon Eastwood made a good save to deny Karl Hawley from range whilst Leon Osbourne had gone close with a low shot just wide to the left for City, with further chances for the home side falling to Boulding, who shot tamely at Schmeichel from inside the box, and when Luke O'Brien's cross was palmed in the area and cleared before City had chance of a tap in.

In the second half Notts County stepped their game up a notch and began to control matters, with City offering very little throughout the second period even after the substitions of Sharry for Flynn and Thorne for Neilson. It wasn't until the 85th minute though that the Magpies managed to actually regain the lead, with former loan-Bantam Delroy Facey turning in a cross from the right wing from Westcarr.

That had come after the dismissal of Lee for a second bookable offence just after an hour and appeared to have killed off the game, before the tie sprang into life in the final ten minutes and Brandon headed in an equaliser at the back post unmarked after a superb James O'Brien corner from the right.

There was still time for lively substitute Matt Richie to tonk the bar in time added on for the visitors but City failed to make the most of a couple of corners themselves and the game went immediately to penalties.

Things were not looking good for the Bantams when County converted their first spot kick and Boulding missed his team's first. However, sub Peter Thorne managed to squirm his kick under the big frame of Schmeichel and when Eastwood magnificently saved low to his right next time up City were back in the contest. Skipper Simon Ramsden converted to draw his side level and when James O'Brien coolly slotted home high into the right hand corner after County had fired wide, City went ahead. Schmeichel declared himself the man to keep County in the game but saw his powerful effort saved by the legs of Eastwood, meaning it was City that threw their name into the hat for the draw for the next round countesy of a 3-2 victory on penalties.

BCTID MOM - No one was particularly outstanding in my opinion on what was a difficult night to play football but having produced two good saves in the shoot out I find myself leaning towards young Simon Eastwood yet again as those saves proved vital in City getting through to the next round of the competition.