Brentford 2 - 2 Bradford City

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Saturday Apr 12 2008 03:00

Goal-hungry Brentford and Bradford served up four superb strikes in 20 crazy first-half minutes at Griffin Park.

It's not the sort of fare usually served up in end-of-season games, neither side having anything to play for.

But nobody told Glenn Poole, who opened the scoring on five minutes, picking his spot from Gary Smith's pass, after the Bradford back-four stood off.

Ten minutes later, the visitors were level when veteran striker Peter Thorne volleyed home from the edge of the box, after the ball came to him from the right and within two minutes Bradford were in front.

The bounce from Alex Rhode's flick-on beat Bees right-back Craig Pead and the ball fell to Kyle Nix, who fired home from the edge of the box.

The visitors should have gone further in front two minutes later when Matt Heywood's mistake let in Eddie Johnson one-on-one with Simon Brown, but the Bees keeper saved superbly.

Six minutes later, Brentford were level thanks to Alan Bennett's first goal in senior football. The Irish international defender, on loan from Reading, fired home from the edge of the box after the Bantams failed to clear a corner.

The goal fest looked set to continue when Tom Penford hit the bar from 30 yards out, before Heywood saw a header cleared off the line, but after the break it was all Brentford with Wayne Brown going close from a great Poole pass after Alan Connell's sublime flick.

Visiting keeper Scott Loach then made a brilliant one-handed save from Nathan Elder and only the faintest of touches from Mark Bower prevented Connell from being clear through.

Brentford were reminded of the danger down the other end when Brown spilt Johnson's shot, but the danger was cleared.

However, Connell should have won it for Brentford when he volleyed over from just a few yards out with time running out.

  • 90
    That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.
  • 83
    Brentford are replacing Wayne Brown with Ricky Shakes.
  • 83
    Bradford are replacing Alex Rhodes with Luke Medley.
  • 77
    The referee has booked Alex Rhodes.
  • 69
    Kyle Nix is being taken off, Omar Daley has come on in his place.
  • 69
    Tom Penford is being taken off, Craig Bentham has come on in his place.
  • 60
    Nathan Elder is booked for unsporting behaviour.
  • 56
    Mark Bower goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.
  • 46
    The second half is under way with the score currently at 2 v 2.
  • 45
    Half time whistle is blown by P Armstrong
  • 26
    Goal!! Alan Bennett scores for Brentford.
  • 19
    Goal!! Bradford have scored with Kyle Nix putting it in the back of the net.
  • 17
    Goal!! Peter Thorne scores for Bradford.
  • 6
    Goal!! Brentford have scored with Glenn Poole putting it in the back of the net.
  • 0
    It's 3pm on Saturday, April 12th, the match has kicked off.

Statistics

Brentford
Shots on target 3
Shots off target 8
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 16
Offsides 5
Corners 6

Bradford City
Shots on target 3
Shots off target 2
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 12
Offsides 1
Corners 1

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