Bradford City 1 Oxford United 2

Jack Shoemark

United made it four straight League Two victories after coming back from a goal down to beat Bradford City at the Coral Windows Stadium. Peter Leven continued his impressive record from the penalty spot with a last minute effort after Sean Rigg had drawn the U’s level in response to Nakhi Wells’ early goal. The result saw Oxford win in Yorkshire for the first time since a 1-0 victory against York City in April 2008.

Perhaps more importantly, it brought about my first chance to report on an Oxford win for Rage Online after eleven attempts and also brought an end to my fifteen game winless run stretching back to December 2010.

Chris Wilder produced a piece of tactical genius in his team’s line-up. Michael Duberry and Liam Davis returned to form a defensive unit along with Damian Batt, Michael Raynes and Jake Wright. Lewis Montrose was given a debut in midfield alongside the fit again Leven and the tricky twosome of Rigg and Alfie Potter which left Justin Richards to play the lone striker role. The only enforced change saw a rare appearance for Wayne Brown in goal who replaced Ryan Clarke who may be facing shoulder surgery.

The new set-up almost paid dividends with in the first couple of minutes, Davis getting free down the left hand side before finding Rigg whose shot from eighteen yards was pushed over the bar by Matt Duke. Moments later, Lewis Montrose found space in the box to get on the end of a Leven corner but could only plant his header into the stand. There was only one team in the game during the opening exchanges but it was to be Bradford who took the lead with virtually their first adventure into the U’s half. A long ball from the back led to a chase between Duberry and Wells, Duberry expertly held off his man to head the ball back to Wayne Brown. At least this should have been the outcome, unfortunately for Duberry, Brown had come to the edge of his box and the former Chelsea defender could only watch as the ball looped over Brown and rolled towards the United goal. For a moment, it looked like the defensive mix-up wouldn’t cost Chris Wilder’s side but the speedy Wells was alive to the situation and raced to knock the ball into the empty net from a tight angle before tumbling into the advertising hoardings with a mighty bang.

The goal suggested that an all too familiar Oxford United away performance was on the cards. However, with the home fans just beginning to raise the volume levels (Come on City – yawn) Oxford hit back. Batt and Potter combined down the right hand side, the latter crossed for Leven and he laid the ball back for Rigg to hit a powerful left footed shot from the edge of the box into the top corner to make it 1-1. It was a spark for the U’s to take charge of the game, Leven had a trademark free kick turned around the post by Duke to prevent the Scotsman from doing what he wanted – how mean! A mazy run from the impressive Montrose then released Potter whose powerful shot had Duke at full stretch to turn away before Batt hit a wild shot high into the stand (Clearly been watching too much of London Welsh Damian!)

Montrose had been described as a combative midfielder upon his arrival from Gillingham and the former-Wycombe player produced a very Ronseal like performance. In fact, the first half showing from all of United’s outfield players was very impressive. Duberry, Raynes and Wright had not let Wells or Andy Gray have a sniff of the United goal and Justin Richards was excelling in his lone role up front. Zavon Hines and Batt, and, Gary Jones and Montrose were developing a wonderful little sub plot with their own personal battles and as the half time whistle sounded, all four sides of the ground rose to applaud the two teams off.

The Yellows (in blue) started the second half as they had finished the first, in top gear. Rigg forced Duke into another smart stop and that man mountain Alfie Potter had a header cleared away from under the cross bar. Moments later, Liam Davis had a half volley tremendously saved by Duke, then Duberry had his goal bound header pushed onto the bar by the Bradford keeper and lashed away by the home side’s relieved defence. The number of chances that the U’s had seen squandered meant that Bradford could have easily snatched the lead (and to be honest, I was expecting it) but they failed to muster a single effort to test Brown.

Oxford deserved all three points and unlike in previous games this season, they went and got them. Potter showed great skill to hold up the ball on the edge of the box before bursting past one defender and being felled by another. It looked a nailed on penalty and Leven took his chance to do what he wanted and fired the ball into the roof of the net from the spot just as the clock ticked onto ninety. Four minutes of injury time was added which encouraged the home crowd but their side could only resort to aimless long balls into the United penalty area that were dealt with ease by all of the Oxford defence. The one that wasn’t dealt with ended up in the back of the net, but Carl McHugh was in an offside position as he prodded the ball home and United saw out the last few seconds and showed Wigan, Arsenal and Villa the way to beat the Bantams.

A fantastic TEAM performance from the Oxford boys with debutant Montrose and Rigg standing out for particular praise. Justin Richards was excellent up front and never stopped running or hassling the Bradford defence. The new five man wingback system also excelled whilst Peter Leven looked close to being back at his best with a number of classy passes and flicks. And of course who can forget Potter – his trickery ultimately brought the match winning moment to send the U’s to that elusive Yorkshire victory and by ‘eck it were good!

In an unusual occurrence, Wilder used none of his substitutes so Crocombe, O’Brien, Capaldi, Worley, Heslop, Parker and top scorer Craddock all remained on the bench. Montrose, Duberry and Rigg found their way into referee Jeremy Simpson’s book. Montrose resulting from his battle with Jones, Duberry for offering Alan Connell a trip to Nando’s and Rigg for having the cheek to slip and foul a Bradford player.

United rise to 12th in the table with 38 points, just two points behind 7th placed Southend with a game in hand. Top of the form table and on a roll – the next couple of games against Rotherham and Fleetwood will go a long way to deciding where United finish this season.

Elsewhere in League Two, Port Vale went top after beating previous leaders Gillingham 2-1. Exeter moved into third after dispatching Southend 3-0 at home, Burton continued their good season with a home victory over Torquay whilst Cheltenham drew with York. Barnet left Rotherham with all three points to continue their good recent run and to put that lovely character Steve Evans in the perfect mood ahead of his trip to the Kassam next week. Bristol Rovers remain rooted to the foot of the table despite a shock 3-0 victory at Fleetwood.

Wimbledon played out a 2-2 draw with Wycombe, Plymouth beat Morecambe and Aldershot beat Accrington whilst there were also wins for Dagenham and Chesterfield.

Attendance: 10,087 (260 Oxford)