2009/2010 Season. Pre-season friendly match no. 5.
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009.

ALFRETON TOWN 0, Bradford City 1

Match pics by Bill Wheatcroft here and by Dave Purseglove here

A SOLITARY 68th-minute goal from James O'Brien was all that separated Alfreton Town and Bradford City at the Impact Arena in Tuesday night's pre-season friendly, yet the scoreline might well have been very different had either keeper not pulled off numerous memorable saves.
The first half was played throughout in torrential rain which undoubtedly affected the attendance and it took some time for the teams to settle in to the game, an eighth minute cross from City defender Simon Ramsden skidding harmlessly through the six-yard box as players struggled to find their footing.
Bantams keeper Simon Eastwood, making his first start for the club, was the first into action when he beat away a volley from Paul Clayton at point-blank range following a 21st minute Ian Ross cross from the byline after a right-wing corner had been returned to him.
Seven minutes later Aden Flint did well to force the ball behind for a corner as James Hanson threatened, then a further flag-kick taken by Leon Osborne struck the back post with Bradford having a goal disallowed after the assistant referee spotted a push as the ball ricocheted off a defender in the crowded box. 
Two minutes later at the other end Clayton won a corner off the keeper after a decent run into the area, and from Ross's delivery Matt Wilson put in a wayward glancing header that Flint retrieved beyond the far post - from the pull-back Wilson blazed wide from 12-yards.
Wilson tidied up in defence on 35 minutes as Rory Boulding picked out Michael Boulding with a sweet through-ball, then a minute later Hanson turned neatly on the edge of the area only to fire wide.
A brace of stunning saves by Eastwood in the 39th minute prevented Alfreton from nudging ahead after Anton Brown had advanced at pace and picked out Clayton at the far post, the keeper repelling the striker's angled drive before rapidly adjusting to palm away Damien Reeves' powerful follow-up.
Another promising pass from Brown on the stroke of half-time almost succeeded in setting up Clayton again, but Eastwood bravely dived at his feet and needed treatment after Clayton had accidentally caught the keeper.
7 minutes after the break Brown again loomed large on the City horizon, this time forcing Ramsden to cut out the cross as Reeves prepared to convert at the back post, then moments later Mattie Burke put the lively Brown through but Eastwood just managed to reach the ball first.
Lee Bullock seemed to want too much time to pick his spot on 54 minutes, allowing Dominic Roma to dispossess him, then 60 seconds later Craig Dootson parried a fearsome drive by Rory Boulding with Bullock smashing the rebound against the crossbar.
Further top-drawer saves from the Reds' keeper came on the hour mark as a rasper from Leon Osborne was somehow turned behind, then after Michael Boulding had pulled back Osborne's corner Bullock's header seemed destined for the back of the net until Dootson's full-length dive produced a fingertip save.
After a sustained spell of pressure by the visitors the deadlock was broken in the 68th minute, but not before Dootson had again excelled in palming away Hanson's powerful drive before O'Brien rifled home the loose ball from 15 yards.
Brown dragged his left-foot shot wide from Jordan Hall's delightful cross-field pass in the 73rd minute, then a useful Kris Bowler cross ten minutes later resulted in Burke firing high and wide from a good position.
For a split second Anthony Howell had a clear sight of goal on 86 minutes as Hall picked him out but Ramsden intervened, then a minute later Eastwood almost blotted his copy-book when he fumbled Hall's astute cross but sill managed to concede a corner as Reeves challenged.