The Right Reaction

Bantams 1-2 Walsall

Nationwide League Division 1

Valley Parade, Bradford

 Goals

- Matias, Roper (Walsall) Cadematari, Forrest, Bower (Bradford)

- None

A superb second half team performance saw the Saddlers gain a much needed 3 points on the road

However, whilst the first half performance was pretty solid the Saddlers looked extremely limited as an attacking unit with the 451 formation developing into a 6-5-0 variety with Leitao spending more time in his own penalty box defending than in the opposition half. 

Vinny Samways looked calm and distributed the ball well whilst Robinson was also looking neat and tidy. Unfortunately Matias just did not get into the game at all during the first 45 minutes and whilst Walsall looked fairly solid it did not look as though they would get out of their own half let alone score. 

It was fortunate that the Bantams strikers left their shooting boots in the dressing room as numerous chances went begging. If it wasn’t for a superb first half performance by the ever reliable Roper then the Bantams would surely have lead at the interval. 

It is worth noting however that the Saddlers were not just playing against the claret and yellow stripes of Bradford but also against a “homer” official who gave some very strange calls indeed to the advantage of the home team. Seemingly every challenge made by a Saddlers player against the good folk of Yorkshire was deemed to be unfair and against the spirit of things. Very odd. The only efforts that the Saddlers had on goal were a tame effort from Shuker and a blast from Robinson which went well wide.

Half Time : Bantams 0-0 Saddlers

 The second half however was a different story. It started off with the Saddlers again all at sea having to defend numerous corners and only a last ditch goal line clearance from Bazeley kept the scores blank. Suddenly the class of debutant Samways came through. He received the ball deep in his own half, looked up and switched play to the opposite wing with a delightful ball to Wrack. 

The stand in left back then took the ball from the halfway line up to the edge of the box. His subsequent shot bounced of the Bantams keepers’ chest, bounced off Leitao into the path of the onrushing Robinson who struck the ball sweetly into the bottom corner. At this point the Saddlers were a delight to watch. They played football, good football, passing to each other, quite unbelievable.

 The young Shuker was by now having a fantastic game. He appeared on the left wing, the right wing, up front with Jorge, his work rate absolutely fantastic. He began to terrorise the Bradford defence running at them every time he received the ball. This guy was a positive outlet, he relieved the pressure, created chances and was a joy to watch. Unfortunately, as the Saddlers had started to dominate the game Bradford hit back with a breathtaking goal. 

Darren Wrack was done up like a kipper on the wing and the resultant cross excellently scissor kicked home by youngster Forrest. A fantastic goal worthy of the entrance fee alone. The Saddlers then reverted back to type as though the football had suddenly transformed itself into a hot potato. 

Bradford were now piling on the pressure and another goal looked inevitable. In true rugby league fashion Walker made a hash of the traditional Yorkshire up and under and a Bradford player nodded the ball into the net. 

Fortunately the strange official decided at last to give the Saddlers a decision having ruled that Walker had been impeded. Walsall then came back into the game with Robinson, Samways and Shuker all playing well. 

Yet another break from Shuker resulted in the second goal as he raced to the edge of the box and crossed delightfully for the onrushing Matias to nod firmly into the net. 

The game ebbed and flowed. It was real edge of the seat stuff as the fourth official indicated 5 minutes of injury time had to be played. The battling Saddlers scrapped for every ball and returned home with a well deserved 3 points. Fantastic entertainment.

Full Time: Bantams 1-2 Walsall

Jimmy made 2 fantastic reflex saves while Roper and Barras
defended braveley throughout, Barrras as always did make one major error
(misplaced header putting Ward clean through). Samways looked assured, he
helped to lead the team as O'Connor does but the midfield disappeared a bit
in the second half. Inconsistency plagues Pedro, today was not one of his
better games until the goal. Jorge ran about a bit and Chris Shuker....well
he chased everything. He made the difference yesterday and looks like a
breath of fresh air to our frontline.