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Seems like three is the magic number tonight for Farsley. This is the third year on the trot I’ve seen them beat Bradford City in a pre-season friendly. It was a comfortable win too, following on strongly from the 2-0 victory over Sheffield Utd the night before. The game was also a chance to see former Stoke City favourite Peter Thorne in action for the visitors.

I’d spent my day off on strike sorting out the house and removing clutter from the living and dining rooms. I was in need of some light entertainment so I arranged to meet Paddy the Farsley Potter at his place to watch the match and have a swift jar afterwards. The crowd was much larger than for the Vale game, with Bradford fans easily outnumbering the home support. They even started the game on time so we missed the first couple of minutes which is unusual, it is tradition for the whistle to blow as we step through the turnstile whatever time we arrive. For July it was cold, fleeces and waterproofs were needed, the scarf brought along as an accessory was employed for keeping me warm!

It was clear Farsley needed a sharper cutting edge and have moved to improve that problem. They’ve recently brought in striker Andy Campbell from Halifax Town, where last season he scored 12 goals from 49 appearances. It’s the Andy Campbell that started his career at Middlesborough leaving to join for Cardiff City for £1m in 2002. His career highlights include a fine lob over goalkeeper Chris Day to give Cardiff a play-off victory over Queens Park Rangers putting them into the Football League Championship, and scoring against Manchester United in the FA Cup in a 2-0 win for Middlesbrough. At 29 years old he should be half decent at this level.

A clinical first half performance from Farsley saw League Two side Bradford City easily brushed aside. Once again the football was played mainly on the deck with some good passing movements from the home side. Unlike the Vale game there were fewer young players on the pitch, both clubs fielding what looked like fairly strong teams. Farsley took the lead midway through the first half. Andy Campbell’s cross caused the City backline problems and James Knowles was able to squeeze home from close range. It was about the highlight for “Knowlsey” because while one of Farsley’s best players last season, tonight everything he touched (bar the goal) went wrong and his colourful language demonstrated he was not impressed with himself either!

There was barely time for the goal to sink in before Farsley doubled their lead moments later through Campbell. Rory Prendergast laid off Campell who smashed home an excellent effort with a thunderous shot from 18 yards. I thought I’d caught it magnificently on camera but a split second delay meant instead of the ball hitting the net I got Paddy’s raised hand of celebration blocking the view. Nice one youth. Farsley effectively wrapped up the match on 41 minutes. Campbell drove at the City defence before laying off Dominic Krief whose shot was deflected in by Paul Arnison. At the other end a free header from a corner was flashed inches wide, and another shot looked to come back off the post but it was in fact the advertising board. For all of their build up Bradford were no threat in front of goal, and it wasn’t until the half-time warm-down that I realised that Peter Thorne was actually on the pitch! For the record he played no part in the second half. HT 3-0

While we expected Bradford to turn up the pressure and mount a second half comeback, the opposite was in fact the case. They again carried no real threat in front of goal despite the pace and trickery of their left winger getting them into decent positions throughout the game. The second half was memorable only for the downpour of rain, the subsequent soaking we received, and how it actually stopped when we finally made a move to the covered terrace behind the goal. Typically having moved we were then the wrong end to see Bradford City pull one back on 60 minutes. Barry Conlon scored from the penalty spot after Mark Jackson had been penalised for an apparent handball. The natives on the paddock weren’t happy about the penalty when we returned to our usual spot and described the decision as “soft”. I think that’s Yorkshire for “dubious”. No real effort was made by Bradford (who brought on coaches David Wetherall and Wayne Jacobs for a run out) to salvage honour and Farsley ran out comfortable winners, holding on to the possession and stroking the ball around nicely. Hopefully they will prove a capable side in their new division this season. FT 3-1

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