A poacher's finish from Macaulay Langstaff and an excellent double from Alassana Jatta secured us a huge win at the University of Bradford Stadium.
Langstaff got us going with his 25th goal of the season in the first half, leaving the stage set for Jatta to put the seal on an excellent performance with two goals after the break.
With Sam Slocombe (soreness), Tobi Adeabyo (injured), Will Randall (unwell) and Aden Baldwin (suspended) joining an already-long list of absentees, Stuart Maynard’s team selection options were limited once again.
Luca Ashby-Hammond was recalled between the posts, with Lewis Macari, Kyle Cameron and Jaden Warner sent out to protect him in a back three.
Having not been called up to represent Malta for family reasons, Jodi Jones was given the nod to continue down the left – on the opposite flank to Aaron Nemane.
In midfield, Scott Robertson returned from his one-game suspension to provide the base for Dan Crowley and Sam Austin to support forward pair Jatta and Langstaff.
Richard Brindley returned to the bench to provide a defensive option, while youngsters Luther Munakandafa and James Sanderson also took their place in the dugout alongside more experienced campaigners in Jim O’Brien, John Bostock, Charlie Colkett and Aidan Stone.
The first two efforts of the game went to the hosts as Alex Gilliead sent a shot wide of the near post moments before Richie Smallwood’s low effort was comfortably saved by Ashby-Hammond.
Despite those efforts we’d made a bright start to the game – and we took the lead with our first chance as Jatta did well to occupy his marker, allowing Jones to latch on to Ashby-Hammond’s long ball forward. The winger’s effort was partially blocked, with the ball running nicely for Langstaff to apply the close-range finish.
We continued to look the better side and, after Jones had fired a dangerously-positioned free-kick into the wall, the hosts had their goalkeeper Sam Walker to thank for a good save as he pushed Macari’s well-taken shot wide following good play by Nemane.
Jatta sent an awkward header wide from Crowley’s cross and Langstaff saw a scuffed, left-footed effort saved as we rounded off a promising first half well and truly on the front foot.
And we so nearly went two-up shortly after the restart as Crowley released Nemane on the counter attack – and he in turn played Langstaff through on goal. The forward took the ball in his stride well on a bobbly surface but saw his shot pushed wide by Walker.
Gilliead had pulled up when trying to chase Nemane and had to make way for Harry Chapman, who came within inches of equalising moments after coming on as he met Daniel Oyegoke’s cross with a header which crashed off the post.
And the hosts were left to rue that missed opportunity as, moments later, we doubled our lead when Jones picked out Jatta with an excellent wide free-kick, which the Gambian headed home despite the best efforts of Walker.
We laid siege to the Bradford defence in the period after the goal, Austin seeing a shot diverted wide before a low Langstaff piledriver was parried towards Jatta, whose follow-up shot was blocked.
Jones was next to have a go, seeing a long-range curler pushed away by Walker before, on 85 minutes, he released Jatta and watched on as the Gambian’s well-struck shot flew just over the bar.
That proved to be Jones’ final action as he made way for O’Brien – but he had the pleasure of seeing us score a third from the bench as Jatta raced on to a long ball over the top from Ashby-Hammond and showed terrific composure to finish beyond Walker.
STARTING XI: Ashby-Hammond; Macari, Cameron, Warner; Jones (O'Brien 88'), Nemane; Sanderson, Austin, Crowley; Jatta, Langstaff
UNUSED SUBS: Stone, Brindley, Bostock, Colkett, Munakandafa, Sanderson
BOOKINGS: Nemane 90+1
ATTENDANCE: 17,983 (1,008)
