Match Report: Bradford City 2 – 6 Chesterfield – Saturday 19th December 2015

As the recent weather has not been on our side, Saturday’s fixture was our first in four weeks. A waterlogged Rawdon Meadows saw us welcome Chesterfield to our 4G pitch for an entertaining morning of football.

With many of our scholars currently injured and three of our second years out on loan, it was another chance for our U16s to make the step up to Youth Alliance football. Despite the downpour of rain, we performed well and the 6-2 score line was a flattering win for the away side.

We looked a threat in the opening minutes which saw Sumaili Cissa’s early cross deflected behind for a corner. James Sunderland’s low shot in the 7^th minute was saved by the goalkeeper and his effort minutes later bounced off the near post.

It was an end-to-end game and despite the strong start, Chesterfield took the lead in the 15^th minute.

Chesterfield’s goalkeeper did well to catch Jack Lazenby’s cross in the 26^th minute and Ellis Hudson showed his strength to carry the ball from box-to-box and have a shot on goal. His ambitious strike was palmed away by the goalkeeper and follow up from Sunderland went over the bar.

Our closest chance to equalising came on 39 minutes when Lazenby’s cross flashed across the face of goal but unfortunately, it was too fast for Cissa to make a connection.

Following an even first half, we deservedly found an equaliser from Niah Payne on 50 minutes when his effort from outside the box curled into the top right-hand corner. Chesterfield attacked from the restart and were awarded an indirect free kick inside the penalty area after Hallwood caught a back-pass. The resulting free kick deflected behind for a corner, which was cleared by our defence.

Centre halves Danny Devine and Kwame Boateng did well to snatch a looping ball from the Chesterfield striker on the hour mark however, moments later they made it 2-1. Despite Hallwood blocking the initial attempt, the shot from the rebound found the net.

By the 64^th minute we were 3-1 down. Hallwood fouled the Chesterfield striker in the box and they comfortably converted the penalty that was awarded.

We found a way back after the restart when Ellis Hudson fired a free-kick into the top right-hand corner to make it 3-2.  We were on top for the remaining period of the half but the young Spireites scored a fourth goal in the 72^nd minute when their striker capitalised on the ball slipping through Hallwood’s hands.

Xander McBurnie’s long range effort went just wide of the post on 74 minutes and Danny Devine did well to track back to prevent Chesterfield from making it five moments later.

Slack defending gifted Chesterfield their fifth and sixth goals in the dying minutes to round off a disappointing morning for us. The defeat leaves us 7^th place in the North East league on 18 points and two games in hand.

We now have a two week break for Christmas/New Year. Our next Youth Alliance fixture is away to York City on Saturday 9^th January 2016. (Further details to be confirmed in the New Year)

Line up

1)Chandler Hallwood (Second Year)

2)Jack Lazenby (U16)

3) Neil Patience (U16)

4) Omed Gardezi (U16)

5) Danny Devine © (Second Year)

6)Kwame Boateng (First Year)

7) Sumaili Cissa (Second Year)

8) Xander McBurnie (Second Year)

9) Niah Payne (First Year)

10) James Sunderland (U16)

11) Ellis Hudson (First Year)

Substitutes

17) Jake Maltby (U15)

14) Casey Taglione (U16)

15) Raeece Ellington (U15)

16) Reece Powell (U16)