Golden Gloves

Bradford City put up a gritty performance this afternoon against a stubborn Macclesfield Town side to bring all three points back to West Yorkshire.
The Bantams were equal all over the pitch to anything The Silkmen could muster in the first half and though each side tried in vein to break the deadlock it was to no avail.
Half Time
Macclesfield 0 Bradford City 0
The second half started much the same with both sides losing the ball needlessly with some scrappy approach play.
City brought on pint sized striker David Brown for Billy Topp after 69 minutes and he didn’t disappoint the city faithful.
In the 75th minute Macclesfield keeper Brain made a right ash of what should have been a simple clearance from a speculative ball from midfield dynamo Kyle Nix. David Brown latched onto the loose ball and with an open goal at his mercy slotted the ball into the net for his first league goal in City colours.
Macclesfield 0 Bradford City 1
The excitement amongst the away following had hardly died down when Joe Colbeck upended a Macclesfield player needlessly in the box.(Penalty)
What followed was outstanding. cue (Golden Gloves)
Bantams keeper Scott Loach made a brilliant double save first to claw wide a Teddy Dunfield penalty before blocking the powerful return from Neil Ashton.
You had to be there to truly appreciate the magnitude of these and other match winning saves from Loach.
Macclesfield threw men forward at the death but Bradford’s mean defence held firm to ensure that their unbeaten run in 2008 was extended to six games.

Final Score
Macclesfield 0 Bradford City 1

Player Ratings

Scott Loach 10
Donovan Ricketts jumped of the bench to applaud his replacement between the sticks.

Starosta 5
Little off pace.

Heckingbottom 6
Coped well under pressure.

Clarke 7
Another commanding display.

Wetherall 7
Great performance.

Nix 7
Pocket Dynamo.

Bullock 7
Strong and commanding performance.

Topp 7
Another entertaining performance.Lots of energy early on but tired after half time.

Thorne 6
Shackled well by Macclesfield defence.

Colbeck 5
Not the best of performances today from Joe.

Penford 7
Battled well against physical midfield.

Brown 8
Fantastic.Bags of energy on his debut.Scored the winning goal.

Conlon N/A
Came on for Peter Thorne 76 mins
Came on for Tom Penford 87 mins