Syers and Smalley gain valuable game-time as City reserves beaten

David Syers and loan recruit Deane Smalley were in the starting line up as City’s reserves this afternoon as they lost to Middlesbrough - only their second defeat of their Central League East Division campaign.

First-half goals from Andy Halliday and Curtis Main gave Boro the advantage at the interval, but Mark Stewart struck at the start of the second period to reduce the deficit.

The hosts quickly responded, however, through Main and Bruno Pilatos to make sure of the win before Dominic Rowe pulled a goal back for the Bantams late on.

With Syers recently coming back from suspension after a prolonged injury lay-off, and Smalley suffering a stop-start time at Oxford United before his move to the Bantams, City boss Phil Parkinson targetted this match as an opportunity to give the pair some match minutes under their belts.

Joining Syers and Smalley in City’s 11 was former Motherwell left winger Ryan Scanlon.

There were also places for Matt Duke, Chris Mitchell, Robbie Threlfall and Ross Hannah in the Bantams’ team.

Duke was the first of the two keepers to be called into action with less than ten minutes on the clock when he was forced to produce a smart save down to his left to tip a low drive from Main around the post.

It wasn’t long before Duke’s counterpart, Connor Ripley, was tested himself, however, when he could only palm out a fierce strike from Hannah into the path of the lurking Syers.

Syers proceeded to slam the loose ball home from close range but his celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag.

Boro came back at City after their Syers scare though, with Duke twice having to keep out efforts from Halliday with smart blocks later in the half.

City’s shot-stopper then had to pluck a headed effort out of the air from Main as the hosts continued on the front foot.

The Bantams, who were once again being by led by youth team manager Steve Thornber, were battling hard to keep Middlesbrough at bay but Duke was still proving to be the busier of the two keepers as the half-hour mark approached.

Duke did well to palm away a dipping, angled effort from Luke Williams before he was able to cope more easily with a drive straight at him from Jonathan Franks minutes later.

City were starting to enjoy a bit more possession as the match crept towards the half-time break but it didn’t stop the hosts finally edging in front six minutes before the interval.

Halliday was the man who drove Boro in front when he beat Duke with a low, angled effort that found the back of the net via the keeper’s far post.

Luke Dean fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area as City tried to respond almost straightaway but Middlesbrough doubled their lead before the half was out.

Once again Halliday was involved, with the attacker’s attempted strike for goal deflecting nicely into the path of Main, who slotted the loose ball past Duke at his near post from close range.

City started the second half with Rowe on their left wing after the youngster replaced trialist Scanlon at half-time.

A header from Halliday forced Duke into a routine save in the early stages of the second period but it was City who came closest to finding the game’s next goal directly after the restart when Syers fired narrowly over from the edge of the area.

The Bantams’ bright beginning to the second half continued and they were able to half their deficit when a neat back-heel from Hannah played Stewart into space inside Middlesbrough’s area, and the Scot beat Ripley at his near post.

Unfortunately it didn’t take the hosts long to re-establish their two-goal advantage as Main pounced to send a diving header past Duke following Pilato’s dangerous cross into the area.

Just before the hour mark, and as planned before the match, Syers was taken off with Saturday’s npower League Two fixture at Bristol Rovers in mind.

The midfielder was replaced by apprentice Jack Fisher, who moved into central defence to allow Andrew Burns to move to right back and Mitchell to move into central midfield.

Shortly after Syers’ departure though, Pilatos went from provider to scorer as the hosts extended their lead.

The Angolan-born defender managed to net Boro’s fourth of the afternoon when his drive from outside the area deflected up off a City’s defender’s leg before looping in over a stranded Duke.

Keen to still try and impress the watching Parkinson though, City kept going for goals, despite the increasingly one-sided nature of the scoreline.

And their efforts were rewarded nine minutes from time when Rowe found the far bottom corner of Ripley’s goal with an neat finish from an angle while inside’s Boro’s area.

Buoyed by Rowe’s effort, City tried to further reduce the deficit.

They had to be thankful to a fine block from Dean Overson to prevent substitute Matthew Dolan a clean sight on goal as they pushed forward though.

A wayward effort from Halliday also helped City’s cause as Boro burst forward on a dangerous counter-attack.

Middlesbrough reserves: Ripley, Pilatos, Weldon (captain) (Gibson HT), Park, Hines (Brobbel 77), Grounds, Williams, Franks, Main (Dolan 77), Halliday, Reach. Sub (not used) Coddington.

Bradford City reserves: Duke, Mitchell, Threlfall, Dean, Overson, Burns (captain), Stewart, Syers (Fisher 59), Smalley, Hannah, Scanlon (Rowe HT). Subs (not used): Tongue, Stephenson, Marshall.