MERTHYR v Bradford

Updates here!

Perry, Williams, Dorrian, Andrew Thomas, Harris, Leek, Khalil, Griffiths, Prosser, Stiens, Armitage.

Subs Jenkins, Smith & Clarke

1-0 Prosser 80seconds. Good turn and shot from 18yards

Latest score please?

Still 1 - 0 AFAIK

1-1 30mins poor defending

Matyrs 2-1 down now!

any idea of the Bradford scorer?

1-2 screamer 26mins

H/t 1-2 down

Losing 3-1 now.

1-3 59mins bad to worse

Sub 52mins: Jenkins replaces Griffiths.
Forgot sorry

Crowd 277. Suspect the majority are as unhappy as I am!

Sub 66mins: Leigh Smith replaces Steins

1-4 72mins.

Armitage missed pen 80mins. Saved by keeper, as was rebound, then final shot over the bar

2-4 Smith 86mins

F/t 2-4

Thanks for the updates, wish it was tidings of a better scoreline.

Credit to Bradford, who I'm told we were the best team we've seen at home this season. Building well on theit 10 goals last week. Numer of our players had off-days, and a very lack-lustre second half, although shouldn't take away from the visitors.

Oh well, look on the bright side: at least Arseanal could only manage a draw, despite being 4 up!

At least Oldland drew and Bridport lost - to Devizes, who's charge up the league will need to be watching, especially as they've got to play both us and Oldland this month.

how many times do we say it but their keeper was m.o.m by a mile his penalty save and his save from the follow up shot was excellent.but we looked out of sorts today,why we stuck with two in midfield when they packed the midfield,so back to our winning next week please.

Today's team:

Perry;
Harris,Williams,Thomas,Dorrian;
Griffiths,Leek,Khalil,Armitage;
Prosser,Stiens;

Subs: Jenkins for Griffiths after about 53 minutes
Smith for Stiens after about 63 minutes
Clarke

With Jonathan Newall suspended Matthew Harris returned to the starting line-up at right back.

We got off to a great start after about 2 minutes when the ball was lobbed down the right for Marcus Griffiths to head it down. A Bradford defender played a loose ball across to the middle where Ryan Prosser hit it first time from the edge of the area just inside the post.

After about 16 minutes the Bradford keeper had to turn away a left-foot shot from Craig Stiens on the right following a throw in.

We came close after about 27 minutes when Scott Armitage broke down the left. He put the ball inside to Craig Stiens whose shot hit the post and bounced across goal to be cleared for a corner on the other side.

We were looking well on top, but then, following a throw in, Andrew Thomas lost the ball near the line, a Bradford player went down the right, evaded a challenge and squared the ball across for an easy chance for a Bradford player to score from 6 yards.

Soon after the goal Kris Leek showed good persistence on the edge of the Bradford area resulting in Craig Stiens putting a shot over tha bar.

After about 35 minutes Craig Stiens took the ball into the Bradford area on the right and drew a good save from the keeper at the foot of the post. The ball rebounded to Ryan Prosser and his shot was also blocked.

But 3 minutes later Bradford took the lead when the ball came to a player about 25 yards out. He took aim and the ball flew into the top corner.

To be losing 2-1 at half time was not really a true reflection on the half, but we had been unable to make the most of the opportunities we'd had, whereas Bradford had scored with their first real attack and then scored a good goal to take the lead.

About 8 minutes into the second half Andrew Jenkins replaced Marcus Griffiths on the right, presumably he's not fully fit.

3 minutes later we were 1-3 down when a Bradford corner from the right was headed straight in unchallenged. We couldn't really complain at the scoreline as we'd been unable to put our game together at the start of the half.

Leigh Smith came on for Craig Stiens, playing on the left with Scott Armitage moving into the middle.

We were really up against it after about 73 minutes when Bradford broke down their right. Ryan Dorrian let the player get the wrong side of him to take it on and beat Joe Perry with a cross-shot. About 5 minutes later only a couple of desperate challenges prevented Bradford from scoring a 5th in another breakaway.

We seemed to have a chance to pull a goal back when Ryan Prosser was tripped as he ran into the area on the left, but Scott Armitage's penalty was pushed away by the keeper. It came to Andrew Jenkins, but his follow-up shot was also blocked.

But we did manage a goal about 4 minutes from the end when a loose ball down the middle of the Bradford defence saw Leigh Smith get to it first to slip it past the keeper and just inside the post. A couple of minutes later the Bradford keeper made another good save to tip a shot from Matthew Harris over the bar.

Well. we're still top of the division of course, but can't really afford too many slip-ups like this. After a decent first half it turned into our poorest display of the season at Taffs Well. Scott Armitage's penalty miss just about summed up the second half. We could put very few moves together, with too many aimless croses into the area which Bradford dealt with easily, and only really tested the keeper at the end. I thought Andrew Thomas and Ryan Dorrian were both disappointing in defence and Andrew Jenkins was generally ineffective. Bradford took their chances well, but 3 of their goals were down to defending that wasn't good enough.

Let's hope it is just a blip (the first one at home). No need to panic yet.

Yes all credit to Bradford who i thought out played us in the 2nd half , 1st half we should have scored 5 or 6 but for weak finishing or good keeping ,Bradfords keeper had an outstanding game his penalty save and follow up were great (where do the opposition get their keepers from).