Second-half show earns Reds Trophy points

Neil Wood made a tactical switch at the interval, introducing Hoogewerf for Bjorn Hardley, switching Alvaro Fernandez to left-back and moving Wellens into the right-hand side of defence.

Within a couple of minutes, the deadlock was broken when a corner was only partially cleared to Savage, whose fierce effort deflected into the net for the opener.

Hugill almost smuggled in a second at the near post and the chances started to come thick and fast with Crankshaw and Charles Vernam almost getting a sight of goal during a scramble. Back came United with Savage’s screamer flying over the top after Shoretire’s shot was blocked.

Levi Sutton was afforded too much time inside the area but lashed over and it proved a costly miss for the Bantams. In the 57th minute, substitute Hoogewerf did brilliantly down the right and expertly picked out Hugill in the centre, with the striker ramming home his first goal of the season.

The Reds remained a real threat as Shoretire just had one touch too many after some creative approach work while Hoogewerf and Iqbal forced saves out of Hornby. Substitute Andy Cook worked Kovar at the other end but there was a sting in the tail from the visitors when Hoogewerf capped a bright second-half display by collecting a Shoretire pass and racing through to crack in a splendid third.

Iqbal blasted over and Alejandro Garnacho was close with a curler before Bradford’s Crankshaw had a stoppage-time goal ruled out for offside. It all sets things up nicely for the final group game at Sunderland, following the 3-2 loss to Lincoln City in our opener.

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