Bradford City crushed by Motherwell

Jul 31 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

Motherwell 4 Bradford City 0

A POWERFUL performance from Motherwell had this game wrapped up before half time, against League Two side Bradford City.

The Fir Park side opened the scoring after just 16 seconds when a long ball from Darren Smith was knocked by Chris Porter into the path of Keith Lasley, and his low ball was swept into the net by David Clarkson.

Clarkson steered a header over, while Porter was denied by Bradford keeper Rhys Evans.

But ’Well doubled their lead in 18 minutes when Porter was brought down in the box by defender Mark Bower. The striker dusted himself down before dispatching the spot-kick.

Bradford threatened in 25 minutes when Paul Arnison’s diagonal ball picked out Lee Bullock, but his shot was saved by the feet of Graeme Smith.

Seven minutes later Motherwell were 3-0 up when Stevie Hammell released Smith down the left and he darted down the wing before cutting in and sliding the ball home from an acute angle.

Motherwell made it 4-0 in 40 minutes, when Smith’s shot was beaten out by Evans and Bob Malcolm reacted quickly to side-foot the ball into the net.

Substitutions punctuated the second half, meaning few chances were created.

However, Bradford sub Barry Boulding was unlucky to see an effort crash off the crossbar, while at the other end Jim O’Brien’s volley thundered off the base of a post.

MOTHERWELL: G. Smith, Quinn (Connolly), Craigan, Reynolds (Soley), Hammell, D. Smith (O’Brien), Lasley (McGarry), Malcolm (Fitzpatrick), Hughes (Trialist), Porter (Slane), Clarkson (Murphy). Sub (not used): Imley.