Bradford City
returned to Wembley this afternoon twelve weeks after their first visit this
year; a heart-breaking defeat to Swansea in the League Cup Final. This time
they took on Aidy Boothroyd's Northampton Town in the showpiece of this
season's Football League Two.
Both teams had overcome strong tests in the semi-finals in the shape of Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town respectively, surely setting up a thriller at Wembley. For Bradford City after their fairy-tale run all the way to the League Cup Final, it was just another game, arriving at the national stadium dressed in their game day tracksuits. For Northampton Town however, this was their cup final, walking around on the Wembley pitch pre-match in smart black suits.
After the usual formalities of a footballing showpiece including the presentation of the teams to dignitaries and singing of the national anthem, all eyes turned to what they came for; the game of football ahead of them.
After end to end football in the first ten minutes, both teams settled into the flow of the game. While Northampton seemed to sit back, they successfully repelled the first wave of Bradford's counter attacking style.
Both teams had overcome strong tests in the semi-finals in the shape of Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town respectively, surely setting up a thriller at Wembley. For Bradford City after their fairy-tale run all the way to the League Cup Final, it was just another game, arriving at the national stadium dressed in their game day tracksuits. For Northampton Town however, this was their cup final, walking around on the Wembley pitch pre-match in smart black suits.
After the usual formalities of a footballing showpiece including the presentation of the teams to dignitaries and singing of the national anthem, all eyes turned to what they came for; the game of football ahead of them.
After end to end football in the first ten minutes, both teams settled into the flow of the game. While Northampton seemed to sit back, they successfully repelled the first wave of Bradford's counter attacking style.
Bradford get the breakthrough
The breakthrough came on the 15 minute mark, a combination of poor defending and great build up play from Bradford set up a great opportunity for James Howson. The striker duly obliged, converting the cross from the right with a sublime looping header over Northampton's hero from the semi-finals Lee Nicholls.
The lead was doubled barely four minutes later when Rory McArdle popped up in the box, sending a powerful header in the bottom corner of the Northampton goal. The assist again came from a cross from the right hand side, the Cobblers had seemingly not learned their lesson from the first goal.
Northampton's situation went from bad to worse just before the half hour mark. Gary Thompson's cushioned header across the face of the goal was slammed home by the onrushing Nakhi Wells, scoring his eighth goal in as many games for Bradford. It seemed that even with the vast experience of Clarke Carlisle in their ranks, the Cobblers defences crumbled when the ball fell in their box. Lee Nicholls, picking the ball out of the back of the net for the third time in less than thirty minutes, would have undoubtedly seen the stunned and dejected Northampton fans seated behind his goal.
 |
| Nakhi Wells fires home on 28 minutes |
As Bradford went in to half time cruising with a three goal advantage, the
biggest lead in any play-off final at any level, Northampton had it all to
overcome. Where the club will be playing next season rested on Boothroyd's team
talk, in which he must have referenced a certain eastern European city, on a
certain night in 2005, arguably the greatest comeback in football, also from
3-0 down. Phil Parkinson's job one can imagine was a lot easier, and probably
encouraged his players to build on the strong foundations they had built in the
first half.
Second half
Northampton come out of the blocks strong at the second time of asking, but were yet to register a shot on target on Jon McLaughlin's goal. The first ten minutes of the second half were much like the first, end to end football and a few opportunities for both sides. A huge roar erupted from the claret clad end of Wembley on 55 minutes, however it wasn't a goal celebration, but the introduction of the Cobblers' leading scorer this season, the powerful fan favourite Abebayo Akinfenwa.
A minute later, Bradford fans paid a touching and emotional tribute to the 56 football fans, 54 from Bradford and 2 from Lincoln City, that tragically lost their lives in the Valley Parade fire of 11th May 1985.
The second half could have spelled disaster for Northampton, with Bradford squandering a good opportunity, and a wicked deflection from a being plucked out of the air by Nicholls. But the Cobblers somehow kept the deficit to a manageable 3 goals, although the clock was becoming their enemy.
A man of the match winning performance from Bradford's Nakhi Wells was recognised by the Yorkshire club's travelling faithful with a standing ovation when he was substituted with the job almost complete on 84 minutes.
Northampton come out of the blocks strong at the second time of asking, but were yet to register a shot on target on Jon McLaughlin's goal. The first ten minutes of the second half were much like the first, end to end football and a few opportunities for both sides. A huge roar erupted from the claret clad end of Wembley on 55 minutes, however it wasn't a goal celebration, but the introduction of the Cobblers' leading scorer this season, the powerful fan favourite Abebayo Akinfenwa.
A minute later, Bradford fans paid a touching and emotional tribute to the 56 football fans, 54 from Bradford and 2 from Lincoln City, that tragically lost their lives in the Valley Parade fire of 11th May 1985.
The second half could have spelled disaster for Northampton, with Bradford squandering a good opportunity, and a wicked deflection from a being plucked out of the air by Nicholls. But the Cobblers somehow kept the deficit to a manageable 3 goals, although the clock was becoming their enemy.
A man of the match winning performance from Bradford's Nakhi Wells was recognised by the Yorkshire club's travelling faithful with a standing ovation when he was substituted with the job almost complete on 84 minutes.
As four minutes were added on at the end of the second half, Northampton fans started trickling from the ground, readying themselves for the trip home in heart-breaking silence. Those who stayed were dejected; even the most wildly optimistic of fans would not have thought three goals in four minutes was possible. As time slipped slowly away, the other end began to take on a party atmosphere, erupting in joy at the final whistle.
Staggering attendence
47,127 fans were present at the national stadium, with both ends packed with supporters of both clubs, but there is a strong possibility there were quite a few neutrals also attending. It is worth noting that the Europa League Final between Benfica and Chelsea at the Amsterdam Arena only drew 46,163 supporters. The game was a great advert for the Football League, seeing as this was the showpiece of the fourth tier of English football.
Congratulations go to the winners Bradford City, and commiserations go to the runner up Northampton Town. And praise go to both sides for creating such a great advert for the Football League. Bradford's promotion is their first since their promotion to the Premiership in 1999, and comes almost 12 years to the day that they bowed out of the top flight of English football. The season has almost been a fairy-tale for the fans who have stuck with their team after relegation and the brink of administration and relegation to non-league, being rewarded with two trips to Wembley, the arguably more important game returning them to the third tier. For the players, however, the game today was the final push after a 64 game marathon, only Chelsea has played more games. For now, they can relax before returning to training to take on League One next season. The achievements of Northampton cannot be overlooked; a Wembley appearance for a club on the brink of relegation to the Conference for the last few seasons is a huge success, and hopefully a foundation for more success next season.
47,127 fans were present at the national stadium, with both ends packed with supporters of both clubs, but there is a strong possibility there were quite a few neutrals also attending. It is worth noting that the Europa League Final between Benfica and Chelsea at the Amsterdam Arena only drew 46,163 supporters. The game was a great advert for the Football League, seeing as this was the showpiece of the fourth tier of English football.
Congratulations go to the winners Bradford City, and commiserations go to the runner up Northampton Town. And praise go to both sides for creating such a great advert for the Football League. Bradford's promotion is their first since their promotion to the Premiership in 1999, and comes almost 12 years to the day that they bowed out of the top flight of English football. The season has almost been a fairy-tale for the fans who have stuck with their team after relegation and the brink of administration and relegation to non-league, being rewarded with two trips to Wembley, the arguably more important game returning them to the third tier. For the players, however, the game today was the final push after a 64 game marathon, only Chelsea has played more games. For now, they can relax before returning to training to take on League One next season. The achievements of Northampton cannot be overlooked; a Wembley appearance for a club on the brink of relegation to the Conference for the last few seasons is a huge success, and hopefully a foundation for more success next season.
 |
| Bradford celebrate promotion to League One |
No comments:
Post a Comment