Bradford City vs Crewe Alexandra. Sky Bet League Two.
University of Bradford StadiumAttendance11,060.
Monday 26 December 2011 18:16, UK
Striker James Hanson scored twice for Bradford City to help earn a deserved 3-0 victory over Crewe at Valley Parade.
Bradford went ahead after two minutes in fortunate circumstances. Keeper Jon McLaughlin's long clearance was headed goalwards by Hanson and skipper David Artell's headed clearance rebounded off the head of striker Nahki Wells, the ball looping over the head of Alex stopper Steve Phillips and into the net. Both sides hit the post in an eventful first half, Carl Martin from a free-kick for Crewe and Hanson with a deflected shot for Bradford, but the visitors ought to have equalised after 56 minutes when they were awarded a penalty. Ricky Ravenhill brought down Nick Powell in the box, but Lee Bell's spot-kick rebounded off the underside of the bar. Bradford made Crewe pay for this miss after 65 minutes when leading scorer Hanson put them 2-0 in front, hammering a low, right-footed shot into the net after seizing on a partial clearance. And the hitman put the result beyond doubt with City's third goal six minutes from the end. Tall defender Luke Oliver headed substitute Jack Compton's free-kick into path of Hanson, who scored with a right-footed shot from 10 yards.
