Bradford City 4 Morecambe 0

Last updated : 28 December 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Promotion chasing Bradford City got back to winning ways with a convincing victory over a lively Morecambe outfit.

After successive goalless draws Stuart McCall's men bagged their first win in a month thanks to some clinical finishing.

The Shrimps, who dominated for long spells, will be wondering how they ended up on the wrong end of a 4-0 scoreline, but in truth they rarely stretched Bradford's impressive defence, which has now notched up three successive clean sheets.

City took the lead after 24 minutes when midfielder Paul McLaren latched onto a loose ball and picked his way through a crowded penalty area to stab home only his second goal of the season from six yards out.

The visitors always looked a threat from set pieces but with centre-halves Matt Clarke and Graeme Lee in commanding form City's keeper Rhys Evans was rarely tested.

City were on the back foot again at the start of the second period but they stunned the Shrimps when Barry Conlon's through ball sent Michael Boulding racing into the visitors' box.

Boulding held his nerve to fire home Bradford's second just after the hour and that goal seem to knock the stuffing out of Morecambe.

Boulding was replaced by winger Omar Daley soon after and Bradford finished strongly with midfielder Nicky Law coming to the fore.

The on-loan man showed his class after 76 minutes when he picked his spot from 25 yards out and curled a superb shot beyond keeper Barry Roche.

City pressed forward looking for more goals and the pressure told with four minutes left.

Daley's teasing cross reached the far post and when Steve Jones tried to fired the ball back in full-back Danny Adams stuck out an arm.

The referee's assistant flagged straight away and Conlon stepped up to put the icing on the cake with a well-struck penalty which gave Roche no chance.