Town: Jordan Rhodes (2), Scott Arfield (pen 58), Theo Robinson (80)
Town won their second pre-season friendly of the 2010/11 season at Bradford Park Avenue thanks to goals from Jordan Rhodes, Scott Arfield and a third from Theo Robinson.
Rhodes gave Town the perfect start inside 90 seconds when he opened the scoring. The Terriers had forced an early corner in the drizzly conditions at the Horsfall Stadium and after Gary Roberts worked a short set-piece with Joey Gudjonsson, he delivered the ball to the back post; skipper Peter Clarke met the ball with a powerful header that home 'keeper Ben Scott saved well, but in typical fashion Rhodes was on hand to head in the rebound from close range.
Rhodes had another shot saved by the 'keeper in the 7th minute before Anthony Pilkington, who was playing just off the main striker on the evening, drove a 25-yard free-kick wide of the right-hand post.
Naysmith looked rock solid on debut at left-back, where he was successfully negating the home side's biggest threat - former Town man and current Park Avenue Assistant Manager Simon Baldry. As a result the flow of play was heading towards the home goal and it was only the last ditch interception of a defender that prevented the impressive Scott Arfield's curler from going in the 20th minute.
Rhodes poked a snapshot wide of goal three minutes later before heading over the crossbar from a deep cross moments later before an amazing goalmouth scramble ensued in the Bradford penalty area. Arfield set Roberts away down the left and after he tormented the full-back, his deep cross landed on the head of fellow winger Lee Croft; Croft's header was well saved by 'keeper Scott and in the following seconds, both Rhodes and Arfield had shots brilliantly blocked on the line by defenders.
Gudjonsson showed just what he is capable of in the 35th minute when he hit a swerving 30-yard piledriver of a free-kick that the goalie had to save with his trailing leg before the stopper excelled once again four minutes later, keeping out Pilkington's near post header from another Roberts cross.
The only effort of note from the home side came with five minutes of the half remaining when former Town Academy striker Dave Heagney hit a long range effort on target, but debutant goalkeeper Ian Bennett easily got his body behind it.
The home side enjoyed a decent spell of possession at the start of the second-half but couldn't get near Bennett's goal and when Lee Clark made wholesale changes just before the hour mark, the game suddenly went back in Town's favour.
First new boy Carey ran at three players down the left and forced a corner, from which Peter Clarke's powerful header drew another great save from the goalkeeper. The ball stayed alive in the Park Avenue box and when Arfield went down amongst a crowd of players, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
The Scottish midfielder immediately jumped up and sprinted to secure the ball - there was no doubt over who was taking the spot kick! To his credit, he stepped up and sent the 'keeper the wrong way to double Town's lead in the 58th minute.
Town's new strike partnership combined on the stroke of the 65th minute when Theo Robinson played a neat one-two with Robbie Simpson but just as the former Southend man looked to pull the trigger he looked to be caught from behind, meaning that he didn't get the necessary elevation on his attempted chip over the advancing goalkeeper.
The duo were back in action again with fifteen minutes of the game remaining when Robinson latched onto a pass and played his strike partner through on goal, but Simpson's shot was too close to the goalkeeper and he gathered the ball in.
Town extended their lead further in the 80th minute through the lively Robinson, but the goal owed a lot to first year professional Chris Atkinson and Gudjonsson. The Academy graduate made a positive burst forward with the ball from midfield before playing his Icelandic colleague the ball on the right side; Joey looked up and casually played a pinpoint cross over the defender and into the path of Theo, who made no mistake in side-footing the ball home from around twelve yards out.
Another former Town man, Spencer Harris, had Bradford's best chance of the game in the dying stages when he robbed Arfield of the ball, but his low drive was kept out by Bennett.
Town's Team (4-4-2):
Ian Bennett; Gary Naysmith, Peter Clarke (c), Jamie McCombe, Lee Peltier; Gary Roberts, Scott Arfield, Joey Gudjonsson, Lee Croft; Anthony Pilkington, Jordan Rhodes
Unused Substitute: Alex Smithies
Town's Team after 59 minutes (3-5-2):
Ian Bennett; Peter Clarke (c), Antony Kay, Nathan Clarke; Graham Carey, Jack Hunt; Joey Gudjonsson, Scott Arfield, Chris Atkinson; Robbie Simpson, Theo Robinson
Attendance: 522
