Alty 2 Bradford City 1 (From Messenger Newspapers)

Alty 2 Bradford City 1

11:43pm Tuesday 29th July 2008

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HOPE continues to blossom at Moss Lane.

Alty defeated a Bradford City XI 2-1 on Tuesday night to make it five wins out of six in preseason.

Keep this up and the Moss Lane faithful may be dreaming of the dizzy heights of midtable come the start of the season.

There is plenty still to be improved upon but the early signs are encouraging.

The goal will still be simply to avoid relegation from the Blue Square Premier and if the Robins manage to play with as much verve and composure come the season proper, then that goal will be easily achievable.

Kevin Street and Chris Denham scored the goals and both impressed, but there were also promising performances from Dale Johnson and Lee Elam, who still lacks match fitness but certainly doesn't lack confidence or ability.

Alty took the lead after just seven minutes in the most unusual circumstances.

Street's inswinging ball into the box was an absolute cracker but he never intended to find the back of the net.

But visiting keeper Matthew Convey was completely thrown off when Denham missed his header and the ball looped agonisingly over him and in off the post.

The Robins showed more attacking endeavour, with wingers Chris Senior and Elam attacking with menace down the flanks, but Bradford surprisingly hit back 15 minutes later.

Sean Densmore's pinpoint ball over the top caught the defence completely flat-footed and Rory Boulding coolly slid the ball under Andy Ralph.

Disappointing as it was, that setback didn't disrupt Alty's momentum.

They continued to have more of the ball and the territory than a Bradford team containing just three potential first teamers. It was hardly a surprise when they regained the lead.

What was surprising was the manner in which they did so - more Rossonieri than Robins.

Slick incisive passing opened up the Bradford defence, Senior feeding Dale Johnson and the big frontman laying off to Denham who flicked beautifully into the roof of the net with the outside of his boot.

The only major worry before half time was not of Bradford's making but Alty fans' hearts must have sunk when they saw Senior go down injured inside the opposition penalty area.

Worries increased tenfold when Senior failed to re-emerge after the break but luckily, a twisted ankle is the extent of his problem and the pacy striker shouldn't be sidelined long.

Although the first half had not exactly been electrifying, the second was an even more tepid affair.

Both sides went through the motions, working on training ground issues and another goal was never really in the offing.

Leon Osborne and Rory Carson both came close for Bradford, flashing efforts just wide of the target, but it was the hosts who looked most likely.

Substitute Joe O'Neill's cross was cleared off the line as Colin Little stretched every muscle in his body to try and get on the end of it.

Little also chipped a clever effort just over the bar before missing a golden opportunity, blazing wide from O'Neill's flick on.

To complete the quartet of near misses, Little also got on the end of a dangerous Richard Battersby cross, only to head straight into the keeper's arms.

It was, however, a case of job done for the Robins.

Alty (4-4-2): Ralph; Lawton, Lane, McGregor, Doughty; Senior (Little 46), Danylyk, Street (Morris 81), Elam (O'Neill 63); Denham (Battersby 63), Johnson (Barnes 77).

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