Match Report 2001-2002

Friday 14 September, 2001, Division One

Gillingham At Valley Parade

The mighty, mighty Bantams

It is a curious measure of the steel that Jim Jefferies has brought to the Bradford City team but in this the most difficult time to focus on football rather than let the mind wander elsewhere the Bantams have kept minds on the job in hand.

City outclassed Gillingham from start to finish, the Gills consolation on the 90th minute being a result of disbelief at keeper Vince Bartram's stunning save from a Jamie Lawrence shot after a superb move by the cutting Bantams. Marlon King a target for Jim Jefferies in the summer until he was quoted a price of £5m, tucked away his counter attack well, but the Kent side were five down at that point.

City started well, forced a corner on 15 minutes that was kept alive after drifting too far at the far post, Benito Carbone latched onto a ball back from the by line and fired at goal, David Wetherall got a diverting touch to that gave the Bantams the lead. Second later and Eoin Jess popped up around the back and missed out on a lob that would have given City cement to a single goal, something that was not added at Sheffield United last week (Last week, was it only six days ago, seems longer...)

Gillingham, to their credit, toughed out the rest of the first half without conceding and even when the second half goals went in, never resorted to the dirty play that proceeds them by reputation. They look classless but rugged and should retain a place in the division without problems.

Problems, however, are what Andy Tod caused all night with his unconventional striking role in the place of recovering Ashley Ward. Tod rose twice from corners. Once to head in through the keepers legs and once to find an unmarked Eoin Jess six yards out who swivelled to pop the ball in to confirm that the victory would be a commanding one.

From then City swaggered. Carbone's bravado, frequently found and found in good positions he beset the Gills back four popping up on th left, holding the ball and then deftly laying it into the path of sub Robbie Blake who finished on an angle in a way to suggest that the confidence he has been lacking for the past two years can be rebuilt by a team, rather than individual performance.

Carbone added the fifth after a host of players could have scored but aquiced, a drive from ten yards out and King's goal side, an infallible nights work.

City back to second then but moreover back on track after the Burnley game that, truth be told, should have been a win for the Bantams anyway. Jim Jefferies is building something at Valley Parade and it would seem that it is something with strength of mind and determination. The season is long but City passed the test of a point in six. This bodes well.

Match Photos

BBC Images of City beating Gillingham

Man of the Match

Benito Carbone

A hand in everything.

City Team:

Walsh
Halle Wetherall Molenaar Jacobs
Locke McCall Whalley
Jess Tod Carbone

Subs: Lawrence, Makel and Blake used.