Gillingham v Bradford City: Bantams pay price for spurning their chances

With temperatures topping 30 degrees, the Bantams played some neat possession football. But they paid for their failure to create enough clear-cut chances.

Garry Thomson headed over, Alan Connell had a shot on the turn saved by goalkeeper Stuart Nelson and Kyel Reid had strong claims for a penalty when he was pushed to the ground.

But it was City goalkeeper Matt Duke who made a couple of stunning saves to deny Danny Jackman and Danny Kedwell when both looked certain scorers.

Duke was left helpless, however, a couple of minutes before the break when Kedwell hooked the ball over his head from an acute angle and in at the far post.

As if that was not bad enough, City found themselves further behind after 53 minutes when Will Atkinson stuck out a leg in his area, sending Charlie Lee crashing to the floor and Kedwell fired home from the spot.

The introduction of Nahki Wells gave Bradford a lift and he struck just past the hour when he fired home a penalty off the post after he had been brought down by Andy Frampton.

City sacrificed a defender in search of an equaliser but Gary Jones fired over as they failed to make an impression.

Gillingham wrapped up the points with a couple of minutes remaining when Myles Weston’s pace gained him the space to fire home from the edge of the area.

Gillingham: Nelson; Fish, Flanagan, Frampton, Martin; Allen, Montrose (Payne 85), Jackman (Dack 75), Lee; Burton (Weston 57), Kedwell. Unused substitutes: Strevens, C Davies, Forecast, Barrett.

Bradford City: Duke; Darby (A Davies 84), Oliver, McArdle, Meredith; Thompson (Hines 57), Jones, Atkinson, Reid; Connell (Wells 57), Hanson. Unused substitutes: McLaughlin, Hannah, McHugh, Doyle.

Referee: M Russell (Herts).

Man of the match: Danny Kedwell.