A CROWD of 894 packed into the Yorkshire Payments stadium on Tuesday night to see Bradford City come away with a 2-0 win thanks to penalties in each half, writes Dave Parker.
The Bantams centre forward Myles Hippolyte sent Jordan Porter the wrong way in the 20th minute and then once more in the 70th. Town's skipper on the night, Tom Brennan was deemed to have stretched a leg too far to bring down a City attacker and then Porter for the second made a mess of a clearance and appeared to rugby tackle his attacker and Halifax referee Mr Mark Powell had no option more but to point to the spot.
It was the first time in 25 years that City had been to Hove Edge, and on that occasion Town won 1-0 and the Bantams record £750,000 signing at the time Sean McCarthy was injured and didn't play again until Christmas!
The crowd enjoyed some fast paced football in both halves with the City left wing looking exceptionally sharp through Regan Booty, Chay Tilt and Nortei Nortey.
Town's ex-Ossett Utd and Huddersfield Town U-23 defender Joe Wilkinson stood out and looks an extremely good signing on his two games so far. Kieran Ryan, Carl Stewart, Mikey Starkey and Eddie Church were tireless in their efforts and made the visitors work to keep a clean sheet.
Wide players Ousman Cham and Shiraz Khan also possessed the pace, along with Tom Robinson, that will keep the opposition in their new league on their toes and provide opportunities for their inside colleagues.
City's manager, Gary Bowyer was both impressed with Town's stadium and playing surface and for the workout his players, including some trialists he needed to look at, were given.