Bradford City v Northampton Town
NPOWER LEAGUE 2
Saturday April 6th
Coral Windows Stadium
BRADFORD CITY 1
Nahki Wells 23
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 10,389 (413 Cobblers fans)
Bradford: Jon McLaughlin, Stephen Darby, James Meredith, Ricky Ravenhill, Andrew Davies, Kyel Reid, James Hanson, Garry Thompson (sub Zavon Hines 72), Gary Jones, Nahki Wells (sub Will Atkinson 90), Rory McArdle
Subs not used: Matt Duke, Carl McHugh, Alan Connell, Michael Nelson, Nathan Doyle
Cobblers: Lee Nicholls, John Johnson, Nathan Cameron (sub Adebayo Akinfenwa 46), Clarke Carlisle, Lee Collins, Joe Widdowson, Chris Hackett, Ben Tozer, Ben Harding, Ishmel Demontagnac (sub Jake Robinson 34), Roy O’Donovan
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, Clive Platt, Claudio Dias, Luke Guttridge, Lewis Hornby
Referee: Mr T Kettle
Booked:
Bradford: Ricky Ravnehill (87)
Cobblers: Ishmel Demontagnac (7, 9th of the season), Joe Widdowson (10, 14th), John Johnson (45, 3rd), Adebayo Akinfenwa (84, 6th)
10 cautions on or before 14 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Bradford: none
Cobblers: none
Sending offs: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.
Nathan Cameron made his first start since joining on loan from Coventry with Adebayo Akinfenwa dropping to the bench.
Clarke Carlisle headed just over in the opening exchanges before Ishmel Demontagnac and Joe Widdowson both picked up bookings, their 9th and 14th of the season respectively.
Bradford took the lead on 23 minutes, Nahki Wells touching the ball home after capitalising on a communications mix-up between Nathan Cameron and Lee Nicholls.
The Cobblers responded well to falling behind, forcing back-to-back corners before a terrific shot from Ben Tozer was deflected behind.
Aidy Boothroyd was then forced into making a change after Demontagnac picked up an injury, Jake Robinson the player to come on.
Akinfenwa came on for the second half to partner O'Donovan in attack.
Lee Nicholls did well to palm away a stinging shot from Kyel Reid at the start of the second half. With the game really now starting to open up, Akinfenwa headed over before at the other end Nicholls made another fine save to deny Gary Jones.
Jon McLaughlin kept Bradford in front with a superb save to keep out a shot from Ben Harding.
Despite pressing hard the Cobblers couldn't force an equaliser as Bradford held on to claim the three points.
BRADFORD MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 9
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (5) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 10
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 6
CORNERS: (3) 5
FOULS: (14) 21
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 5
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.