Bradford City score late winner to claim victory in Austria

Vadaine Oliver’s late winner sealed victory for City, with Andy Cook drawing Graham Alexander’s men level after Steinmann Roman had given the hosts a surprise early lead.

City’s scholars did the club proud on Tuesday night by defeating Bradford (Park Avenue) 3-0 at Horsfall to reclaim the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy.

But the senior side had stumbled out of the blocks in pre-season, suffering defeats to Chorley and Guiseley before heading out to Austria.

And while Alexander was understandably not too worried about those results, as they came before the middle of July, he will have been pleased by yesterday’s fightback and win, given City’s League Two season starts in just over a fortnight at potential promotion rivals MK Dons.

It sets the Bantams up nicely before their return to England, where they will play host to Sunderland at Valley Parade and visit Altrincham before the competitive action gets going.

After an intense week of early morning runs and bike rides, City looked half-asleep at the start of yesterday’s game, allowing SV Ried II to take the lead after only five minutes.

Roman was on hand to tap home a ball that arrived to him at the back post, with the Bantams now having conceded in the first half of all three of their senior friendlies to date this summer.

City almost hit back on 17 minutes, with Calum Kavanagh, on his first appearance of pre-season, seeing two efforts well blocked by the home defence.

Calum Kavanagh's early substitution was pre-planned, but he almost got on the scoresheet regardless. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

Ciaran Kelly came agonisingly close to drawing the Bantams level on the half-hour mark, but SV Ried II keeper Dominik Stöger produced an excellent save to keep out his header.

Kavanagh came off for Andy Cook soon after, and the prolific centre forward did not take long to get on the scoresheet.

He got himself on the end of a fine cross dug out by Clarke Oduor to head home beyond Stöger.

To nobody's great surprise, Andy Cook found the net just moments after coming on. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

Alex Pattison came on for another pre-season first-timer Brad Halliday after the break, and City began the second half shakily without their dependable right-back on the field.

Sam Walker was forced into a fine save to keep out Boguo Joris’ half volley on 49 minutes but the Bantams responded immediately, Jake Young’s powerful deflected effort well kept out by Stöger.

The SV Ried II stopper did even better with City’s next attempt, as he somehow kept out Cook’s header from a pinpoint Richie Smallwood free-kick.

Richie Smallwood came agonisingly close to a second-half assist. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

Just after the hour mark, Alexander made wholesale changes, leaving only Oduor and Alex Gilliead on the field of the team who started the game.

The Bantams’ new look XI took a bit of time to get going, and they should have fallen behind on 63 minutes, only for Daniel Wimmer to drag his shot wide after racing through on goal.

Tyler Smith, who joined Oliver up front after Cook and Young came off, came close midway through the second half, working some space for himself in the box but pulling his shot over the crossbar.

Oduor came off with eight minutes to go to be replaced by Adam Wilson, meaning the tireless Gilliead was the only City player to complete the full game.

And he was able to celebrate a winner with his fresher team-mates on 86 minutes.

Pattison did well to find Smith, whose initial shot was blocked, but his second attempt fell into Oliver’s path.

The big striker stayed composed when the opportunity came his way, and he neatly flicked it into the back of the net to win the game for City.

CITY: Walker, Halliday, Byrne, Kelly, Trialist, Gilliead, Smallwood, Oduor, Walker, Kavanagh, Young. Subs: Cook, Pattison, Trialist, Richards, Stubbs, Baldwin, Sarcevic, Pointon, Smith, Oliver, Wilson.