This is going to sound quite familiar, but yet again we dominated the
game, squandered lots of chances, and made it very difficult for
ourselves. To be fair, though, Bradford actually created several
chances themselves, and took the lead with a very well finished, but
badly defended, goal in the first half.

The half-time 'chat' must have been pretty good though, because City
came out fired up and were soon back on terms. Drury was fouled in
the box for what looked like a blatant penalty although the ref waved
play on until the lineman over-ruled him and justice was served.
Unfortunately, when it was Rivers who picked up the ball, everyone
around me (and probably the whole ground) suddenly groaned and said
things like "anyone but him!". Fortunately Rivers was unaware that
the crowd had no trust in him from twelve yards, and he put the
keeper the wrong way to calmly score.

Within a few minutes we were ahead, and what a goal! Abbey collected
a pass from Steeno before turning and cracking home from the edge of
the box, with a shot that swerved and dipped and gave the keeper no
chance. Other chances came and went, but we couldn't extend our lead.

Then the ref had a chance to apologise to Bradford for the penalty he
didn't want to give, by awarding them one too! The ball was loose in
the box, and Russell tried to clear up field but took an air-shot.
The nearest Bradford player collapsed, although no-one could
understand why, as Darel had made minimal, if any, contact with
anything at all! However, they equalised with a well struck penalty
and the game headed to an unsatisfactory conclusion.

Holt and Rivers had other ideas, as the former's quick freekick found
Rivers who cut inside an 'unleashed' a left-foot shot that bobbled at
a crucial, fortuitous moment, and the keeper was only able to help
the ball loop up and into the net. The three points were fully
deserved, and it was the result we needed, but yet again we had a
frantic finale - my nails no longer bother growing back!

Deep into injury time, Bradford won a freekick. As the ball came into
the box both Abbey and Roberts allowed their commitment to over-ride
their fear, and they clashed heads... both looked somewhat dazed, and
Abbey was bleeding, but to much relief they both eventually got to
their feet and continued.

So, that result puts us within two points of Wolves in sixth -
although Ipswich are sandwiched between us thanks to a slightly
better goal difference. If we can win our next three games, all
against sides in the lower part of the table, then we can go into the
Wolves game with a realistic chance of overhauling them - and Ipswich.

Also in our favour is the fact that as well as their visit to Carrow
Road, Wolves also have to play Sheffield United, Forest and
Leicester, and Ipswich have to play Forest and Portsmouth. Forest
themselves still have to play four of the teams above us in their
next four matches. And Reading have Forest and Pompey.

Of course, they will all be glad to see we have to play Wolves and
Leicester too. But so long as we can keep grinding out results, we
have to be in with a shout of catching one of the teams in the play-
offs. MLS

Nationwide Division 1 league table
Last game(s) played: Saturday, March 29

Team P W D L F A Pts GD
Portsmouth 39 24 11 4 81 37 83 44
Leicester 39 23 11 5 64 35 80 29
====================================
Sheffd Utd 38 20 9 9 61 41 69 20
Reading 39 21 4 14 49 38 67 11
Forest 38 18 11 9 69 37 65 32
Wolves 39 17 12 10 68 38 63 30
------------------------------------
Ipswich 40 16 13 11 64 50 61 14
NORWICH 40 17 10 13 54 43 61 11
Gillingham 40 14 12 14 53 61 54 -8
Wimbledon 39 14 11 14 63 63 53 0

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