By Match report: Town suffer narrow defeat at Bradford
Grimsby Town fell to a late defeat at Bradford City in League Two this afternoon.
First-half goals from Gavan Holohan and Andy Smith weren’t enough for the Mariners, as former striker Andy Cook found the net with nine minutes left on the clock to hand the hosts a 3-2 victory.
Paul Hurst made four changes to the side that was held to a 1-1 draw at Crawley in midweek, with Anthony Glennon, Kieran Green, Holohan and Ryan Taylor all returning to the starting lineup.
Town didn’t get off to the best start and were behind just seven minutes into the game through an Alex Gilliead goal. Bradley Halliday’s cross found Harry Chapman, whose point-blank effort was well saved by Max Crocombe before Gilliead found the corner of the net on the rebound.
The Bantams almost extended their lead just two minutes later when Scott Banks forced Glennon into making an error, but Crocombe did well to gather the loose ball.
With the hosts firmly in control of proceedings and playing well, Cook poked the ball narrowly wide after getting on the end of a deep corner into the box.
They had another excellent opportunity 17 minutes into the contest, as Richie Smallwood sent a tantalising free-kick into the box that Jamie Walker headed against the crossbar and the danger was averted when a foul was given against Bradford.
Town were handed a lifeline out of nowhere midway through the half when Harry Clifton capitalised on a loose ball and was taken down by Harry Lewis in the box, with the refereeing awarding a penalty. Holohan, who has previously shown he’s the man for the occasion from 12 yards, levelled things up for his side.
They were nearly behind again within two minutes, though, as Gilliead’s cross found Cook, but the in-form forward didn’t quite catch his volley and Crocombe gathered it comfortably.
The Mariners had a decent chance to take the lead eight minutes before the break through Niall Maher, who rose highest and nodded wide from Glennon’s ball into the box following a short corner.
On the verge of half-time, Town went ahead through Smith. A corner was flicked on by Ryan Taylor and, after a scramble inside the area, the defender managed to turn the ball into the net.
It was Bradford that had the first chance of the second half, as they looked to get back into the game, but Gilliead couldn’t find the target and it went sailing over the bar on 53 minutes.
They had another opportunity a couple of minutes later through Banks, with the midfielder beating Maher and then hitting his shot straight at Crocombe.
The Bantams, who had been the better side in the opening exchanges of the half, were rewarded for their efforts when Walker found the back of the net. A long ball forward was flicked on by Sam Stubbs and the attacking midfielder calmly put his side on level terms.
They had a chance to get themselves back in front a few minutes later through Gilliead, but his effort was straight at Crocombe.
With the hosts on top, they thought they had taken the lead on 69 minutes, with Cook heading into the net from a free-kick. The referee gave a foul on a Bradford player to Town’s relief.
The striker wasn’t to be denied for too much longer, though. Matt Derbyshire found space down the right and played a superb ball into Cook, who turned the ball past Crocombe to give his side the lead on 81 minutes.
The Bantams saw the game out well to secure a hard-fought victory on what was an entertaining game in League Two.
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