Bradford Town vs. Portishead

And so on the 4th day of the eight month the year of our Lord two thousand and twelve my football season restarted. Sadly not with a trip to Mansfield away (possibly the only time in history someone has been sad about not going to Mansfield) but with a nice walk downtown to the Western League and Bradford Town.

With City's first game away at Welling not until the 18th, 6 City fans decided that we should go watch Bradford Town again and enjoy some jars. We convened as is usual before Town games at The Three Horseshoes where summer made a fleeting appearance, so some nice Danish Dynamite was sunk sitting in the gorgeous sunshine.

We walked to the Trowbridge Road ground, and in a first directed driving away fans towards the ground. We arrived to a remarkably full ground (well for Western League, the attendance was 78!), paid and entered.

Lovely new shirts

Bradford were looking resplendent in new blue and white shirts (although do Western League teams really need news kits that often!?) The old wooden/asbestos/corrugated iron changing rooms/tea bar is now sadly too knackered to be of use so is now just a boarded up shell, this has been replaced by some giant metal transport containers, and bizarrely some new dugouts.

While on the subject of facilities, we are no closer to finding out what is happening to the Avon club than we were at this point  (It reminds me of Cherynobl)  so who knows what will happen to a small remaining part of Bradford's industrial past.

Bradford started the half brightly and powered towards the Portishead goal, Matty Minis was still the main forward for Bradford but there were a fair few new faces. Towards the middle of the half, the pre-match refreshments caught up with Palmer, who wandered towards the toilets, while he was occupied a distraught Palmer heard a cheer, as a Bradford player slammed the ball home with a brilliant half volley which caught the keeper off guard and nestled into the side netting. The look on Palmers face as he walked back towards the group was worth the entrance fee alone!

Look at the sky, this is August!

The usual half time walk to the shop for a bottle was observed before the second half commenced. Matt Minis limped off for Bradford and they will hope that the injury is not severe. Minis was replaced, and towards the dying seconds of the game, a ball was crossed, the keeper dropped it and the ball was prodded home from 2 yards. 2-0 Bradford and that was how the game finished.

A good opening day victory for the Town and hopefully the men in black and white will replicate this in two weeks time, once again the Western League did not disappoint, and I am grateful that I could start my season with an entertaining game.