Daley screamer gives Bradford City fans something to shout about

The Valley Parade chief – who was celebrating his 58th birthday – will admit that things have not gone as smoothly as he’d hoped this campaign but more displays like this will surely catapult them towards the top of the table.

Omar Daley’s stunning winner on the stroke of half-time earned City an impressive scalp.

Not only have they done the double against a side Taylor rates as the “best in the league”, this victory came against a team who had won seven away games – more than anyone else in the whole Football League before the match.

And what a winner it was. The year may only be three days old but Daley’s volley will undoubtedly be a contender for City’s goal of 2011.

It may have only been from about ten yards but it came from a towering ball into the box from Tom Adeyemi. Daley hit it first time with such venom it nearly broke the back of the net and left Taylor singing his praises.

He said: “He is a player other sides talk about more than anybody else because of what he is capable of doing. That was an amazing goal, amazing technique to keep it down and worthy of winning the match.”

After a stuttering start, the strike came after City had got themselves back in the match and they continued where they left off in the second half.

Chances aplenty were created and only some wayward finishing meant the Bantams were not more convincing winners.

Bury’s confidence on the road was evident early on and they nearly took the lead twice in the first six minutes.

A free-kick from Michael Jones was met by the head of Ryan Lowe but Lenny Pidgeley saved from point-blank range. A minute later, City old boy Steve Schumacher put Lowe in on goal but he shot just wide of the left post.

Schumacher blasted over soon afterwards as Bury looked the more likely side to take the lead.

There was more misery for defender Steve Williams when he was subbed after pulling his hamstring, the defender walking off disconsolately to be replaced by Rob Kiernan. He had only returned to the side against Lincoln two days earlier following a lengthy spell out injured.

City had yet to have a serious shot on goal but the home crowd were sparked into life when Damien Mozika was booked for a high arm on David Syers after 25 minutes. From the free-kick, the same player looked to have been dragged down by Mozika in the box but the referee waved play on, much to the anger of City’s fans, who were convinced a spot-kick should have been awarded.

Bury were suddenly under the cosh and Andy Haworth tugged on Daley’s shirt to concede a free-kick in a dangerous area but the set-piece came to nothing.

The momentum was now with the Bantams and Richard Eckersley produced a lively run, exchanging passes with Jason Price to force a corner.

Price had City’s first serious effort on goal, forcing a good save from goalkeeper Cameron Belford, and then Adeyemi’s side-foot went just the wrong side of the post after good work from Lee Bullock.

Then came Daley’s wonder goal before the break and Taylor’s troops never looked back.

Thirteen minutes into the second half, David Syers put Gareth Evans through and his lob from the edge of the box was just tipped over by Belford.

It signalled a frantic spell of play as Evans and Eckersley linked up well down the right before the striker put it on a plate for Syers.

City’s top scorer had to score but somehow he contrived to miss from a yard out and an open goal gaping, miscuing his shot into the arms of a grateful Belford.

Play quickly moved down to the other end, when Pidgeley made a mess of a routine save from Lowe, who couldn’t capitalise on the loose ball.

The danger wasn’t cleared though and Jones shot wide, leaving Bury’s players claiming a penalty should have been given in the build-up.

Back came City as Price set up Evans following a great ball from Luke O’Brien. The striker – playing with confidence after scoring the winner at Lincoln on Saturday – produced a good first touch but then screwed his shot just wide of the left-hand post with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Evans went agonisingly close again with a good first-time effort after being set up by Daley before Adeyemi tested Belford with a superb long-range effort which would have capped a fine display by the youngster.

As City failed to get the all-important second, fears grew that there may be a sting in the tail but they held on for three richly-deserved points.

Taylor said: “I think the players will get confidence from the way they played in the second half.

“I’ve been critical of them not showing enough belief at home and in the first half an hour that’s how we played but after that I thought we performed very bravely and very well.

“We hope to kick on from here. It’s getting confidence and consistency. We showed some good stuff and we hope to carry on like that.”