TEENAGE striker James Spencer hit a cracking double as Town Reserves chalked a sixth successive win yesterday.
The 18-year-old pounced to seal the points after Theo Robinson had fired Town into a first-half lead against a Bradford City second string including ex-Galpharm player Chris Brandon.
Rory Boulding pulled one back for Bradford with a cracking snap-shot four minutes from time to make the final scoreline 3-1 to Town, who had to work hard to win the totesport.com League fixture.
Town boss Lee Clark and assistant Terry McDermott joined new City boss Peter Taylor at AFC Emley’s Welfare Ground – Town chairman Dean Hoyle was also there – and the home side took the early intitiative.
Skipper Nathan Clarke commanded at the back, James Berrett and Spencer Harris combined well in midfield at times and there were bright touches from Jack Hunt and Taser Hassan, who did well on the right and left flanks respectively.
Hassan, in fact, was first to force a chance with a lovely dribble past three would-be tacklers followed by a rasping right-foot drive which keeper Jon McLaughlin blocked.
McLaughlin did even better seven minutes later when making a brilliant one-handed save to deny Clarke’s header from a corner.
The half went flat for a while after that until Robinson broke the deadlock after 36 minutes, placing a low shot to the keeper’s left.
Rory Boulding and Andrew Villermann had Bradford’s best chances just before the break but failed to test Simon Eastwood, who spent a loan spell with City.
Robinson skied a great chance to double his tally at the start of the second half, but Spencer made sure he didn’t miss out from the next chance on 62 minutes.
Hassan did the hard work, racing to the goalline on the left, and when McLaughlin could only tip away his firm, low cross, Spencer was on hand to rifle the ball in.
Spencer curled another cracking shot inches wide, but he didn’t have to wait long for his second, pouncing in the next attack with a rising right-foot drive after Robinson had knocked on Liam Ridehalgh’s well-placed forward header.
It was the signal for Town to make changes – Robinson, Clarke and Berrett all taken off – while City finished the game with 10 men as, having made three substitutions, Brandon hobbled off two minutes from time clutching a bag of ice.
Town – Eastwood, Powell, Ridehalgh, Berrett (Atkinson 70), Pearce, Clarke (Franks 70), Hassan, Harris, Spencer, Robinson (Chippendale 70), Hunt. Subs not used: Field, Birtles.
