From Bradford City official site Tuesday 17 April 2007 Pontin's Holidays League Central Bradford City 1 Barnsley 5 Kick Off: 7.00pm at the Intersonic Stadium Bradford City failed to continue where they left off after the previous week's victory at Sheffield Wednesday as they were thumped 5-1 by Barnsley at the Intersonic Stadium in the Pontin's Holidays League Central. City had Ben Muirhead making his first appearance in claret amd amber following his return after a loan spell with Rochdale. Muirhead was involved with an early attack on the Barnsley goal when he linked up well with Joe Brown who put in a good cross but was denied when the ball was cleared by Tykes' captain Robert Atkinson. The visitors first chance of what was proving to be a relatively quiet affair came when Michael Coulson struck the ball from 18-yards out but Russell Howarth brought off an acrobatic save. Soon after Steven Mitchell was denied when having received the ball on the left from Xavier Barrau, he had his shot well saved by Kyle Letheren with the ball going out for a corner. City's French midfielder was himself the next to be denied by the Barnsley keeper in the 31st minute when his curling shot was saved. By now Bradford started to dominate the first half, keeping possession well and despite creating many chances, shooting from distance, were unable to break the deadlock before the break. Howarth was brought into action early in the second half when Marc Richards flicked the ball on to Michael Coulson who had the ball saved bravely at his feet by the City keeper with John Swift clearing it of any danger. City broke away from a Barnsley clearance on 52 minutes when an excellent ball from Swift was narrowly missed by Joe Brown. Barnsley took the lead two minutes later after Paul Hayes smashed the ball into the roof of the net from point blank range. Almost from the restart the Tykes could have doubled their lead but a fine save at close range from Howarth denied Richards. City were punished midway through the half when they failed to clear a low ball in from the left and Coulson scored with the easiest of tap-ins to make it 2-0. Barnsley's third came minutes later when a fine ball from Paul Hayes set Coulson free who took the ball on his chest and volleyed home. Bradford pulled one back in the 76th minute when Ben Muirhead hit a superb free-kick from 20-yards out which lofted into the top of the net giving Letheren little chance. Luke O'Brien then came to City's rescue when he cleared off the line after Howarth fumbled the ball. The Tykes were on target again in the 82nd minute when City gave away a soft goal to Richards leaving Howarth far from pleased with his defence. The rout was complete with two minutes remaining when Richards met a cross at the far post and headed home to add to City's misery. In the final minute Barrau and Ainge both came close to try and restore a bit of pride in the scoreline. Bradford City: Howarth, Swift, O'Brien, Mitchell (McGuire), Hopkins, Clarke (Ainge), Muirhead, Penford, Brown, Harper (Osborne), Barrau. Subs: Saynor, Taylforth. Barnsley: Letheren, Harban, Potter, Jennings, Atkinson, Holt (Butterfield), Hayes, Mattis, Richards, Coulson, Joynes (White). Subs: Smith, Fedorenko, Waggett.
