TWO Low Moor lads were at the heart of City’s encouraging win over Newport last night.

Bobby Pointon came off the bench and sparkled straight away as he set up Jamie Walker for the go-ahead goal and then scored a cracking third himself.

And that was set up by Jay Benn, who also had a hand in the opener by providing the cross that was expertly bulleted home by Andy Cook.

The “made in Bradford” third goal put the lid on it for City as they could savour a first win in five games after an uncomfortable few weeks.

It was only Benn’s second league start after being preferred to Brad Halliday at right wing-back – and Graham Alexander has been impressed with the Lincoln loanee’s infectious enthusiasm to get forward.

“He’s done that since he came in,” said the City chief. “Jay came on and set up a goal for Cooky in his first game in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

“He’s shown it in training. He’s really quick, really direct and aggressive and defends well.

“Jay’s got that brilliant enthusiasm. I love people who come on to the training pitch every day and just want to be good footballers.

“They go into the game and don’t get disappointed if something goes wrong. Just go and get the ball back again.

“That’s what we try to implement all the time because disappointments happen. You’ve got to accept it and then think about the next action and Jay’s a really good advocate of that.”

Pointon’s impudent finish in front of an adoring Kop was his third of the season.

Alexander has called on the young local talent to raise the bar in his second senior campaign. There is still an argument whether Pointon is more effective used as an impact sub than a starter.

His arrival along with fellow sub Tyler Smith provided City with that added impetus after Newport had drawn level.

Alexander added: “That’s the sort of contribution we want. We know Bobby’s got an end product and is tactically intelligent around the final third.

Bobby Pointon knows he has just scored something special!Bobby Pointon knows he has just scored something special! (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“He’s a young player that we value highly. He’s got strong competition in those positions throughout the squad.

“His cutback was brilliant and I don’t know how he’s got his finish in from that angle. It was superb.”

There have not been too many smiles on faces in recent weeks after a sticky period since the last win against Carlisle. Alexander is confident City are coming out the other side again.

“Those spells are going to happen.

“We try to educate the players that the perfect world does not exist. You’re going to be challenged, you’re going to disappoint yourselves sometimes, you’re going to fall over.

“You’ve got to show the spirit of winners and I think we’ve done that in the last couple of games.

“I include the Morecambe game because we kept going after a horrendous start. We showed great spirit and commitment.

“I think it overflowed into Monday’s game and we started how we did.

“They get the equaliser but then we are back on the front foot again and score two great goals.

“It’s a process. It’s a growth that the team and the players have to go through together because it’s generally a new squad.

“I think last night’s game will be a good step forward.”

 

 

Victory extended the unbeaten league run at Valley Parade to eight games, stretching back to that miserable March when City lost three at home in a week.

“We started that work towards the end of last season,” said Alexander.

“We sat down and thought about what these games are like here and how we can start better and manage different spells.

“It wasn’t about trying to avoid those spells but knowing what to do when they happen.

“That’s what we’ve tried to implement with the players and they’ve taken it on really well.

“We’re still not perfect but that isn’t going to happen so let’s accept that. Just try to get better each day and that’s what we’re asking the players to do.”

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