On a dry night in Gateshead, United were unable to achieve their first home win of the reserve season, despite racing into a 2-0 lead against a side who had failed to register a point in their previous five games. Bradford also more than doubled their previous goalscoring total for the season.

With many overseas reserve players unavailable, Tommy Craig named a side in which only Cort had cost a fee and only Bernard and unused sub Zola weren't from the home nations.

Bernard occupied a left midfield berth with Taylor and Caldwell together in the centre of defence and Elliott returning to left back. 

Following our reduction to ten men, we got away with three at the back until the interval, after which we appeared in a 4-3-2 formation with Bernard retreating down the flank and Elliott accompanying Caldwell.

An entertaining and high scoring first half ended on a high note with Chopra completing his hat trick, but the dismissal of Taylor and penalty award fatally undermined our chances of a victory.

In the final half hour both sides had chances but neither showed the quality to go on and win the game, with Cort looking particularly unimpressive against mediocre opposition. 

Referee was police officer Nigel Miller from Witton Gilbert, in charge of the second successive reserve game at Gateshead, and he almost certainly cost United victory. 

At 2-0 ahead we were in no danger until the Taylor red card and penalty, and while some keen tackling from City was ignored, both Elliott and Ferrell were booked for fouls no worse than those deemed fair when the visitors were dishing it out. Bentham was eventually booked by Miller, to ironic cheers from the stand.

There were one or two good touches from Bernard out on the left, although he still has a tendency to over-complicate things with unnecessarily fancy footwork. No such problems for Andy Ferrell though, who gave a confident and committed performance in midfield with some well-time challenged. At times his final choice of pass or shot left a little to be desired, but he certainly couldn't be faulted for effort.

Biffa

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