Gillingham 1 Bradford City 0

LEON JOHNSON’S first half header was enough to secure maximum points for Gillingham against 10-man Bradford on Saturday.

Johnson rose highest to head home Clint Easton’s corner in first half stoppage time as the Gills’ comfortably held on to take the three points.

Bradford had the first chance on goal after 12 minutes when Marc Bridge-Wilkinson fired in a long range free-kick which was tipped over by Gills goalkeeper Romain Larrieu.

The home side responded quickly and captain Michael Flynn had Gillingham’s first effort on goal after 16 minutes but his long range effort flew wide of the left hand post.

The visitors should have taken the lead on 22 minutes when Omar Daly combined well with Bruce Dyer on the right hand side.

Dyer then played a ball across the face of the goal for Bridge-Wilkinson but his shot was well saved by Larrieu.

Bantams keeper Donovan Ricketts was called into action four minutes later when he acrobatically tipped over Gary Mulligan’s header after good work from Matthew Jarvis on the right wing.

Bradford were reduced to 10 men just before half-time when Kelly Youga picked up his second yellow card following a late challenge on Mark Bentley.

Gillingham upped the pressure on the Bantams and they took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Easton’s corner was headed home by Johnson at the far post.

Gillingham brought on Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu for Gary Mulligan in the second half and his pace immediately caused the Bradford defence problems when he cut in from the left before seeing his shot deflected wide of the right post after 51 minutes.

The home side continued to push forward and on 72 minutes Andrew Crofts saw his header from a Nicky Southall corner go just over the bar.

Gillingham almost doubled their lead six minutes later when the impressive Matthew Jarvis hit the outside of the right post after cutting in from the left wing.

Bradford were restricted to just one long range effort from Omar Daley as Gills held out for a comfortable victory.

Gillingham: Larrieu, Southall, Chorley, Johnson, Jackman, Bentley, Crofts, Flynn, Easton (McDonald 58), Jarvis, Mulligan (Ndumbu-Nsungu h-t).
Subs Not Used: Cox, Sancho, Collin.
Attendance: 5,513.

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