Bradford floored by sucker Punch

6:47pm Saturday 1st September 2007

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Barnet 2 Bradford City 1 . . .

Man-of-the-moment Jason Puncheon struck an injury-time free-kick to earn Barnet their first win of the season.

Both sides looked to have settled for a point after a rip-roaring contest, but Puncheon had the last laugh with his fourth goal in four games.

The winger's curling free-kick slipped through the hands of keeper Donovan Ricketts on its way to the top corner, though the Bradford shot-stopper did well to even get to it. It was another Puncheon special.

The winner was perhaps cruel on City, who were the better side for most of the second half and had Barnet on the rack at one point, but the Bees steadied themselves and offered the sucker Punch'!

Manager Paul Fairclough said: "The win has been a long time coming. It was a fortuitous victory but, having said that, we played so well in the first half and could have been 2-0 or even 3-0 up at the break.

"I was disappointed with the way we started the second half and we were fortunate to still be in the game."

But Fairclough added that it was about time his side had some luck.

And he was full of praise for Puncheon's winner.

"If you saw that goal on Match of the Day, they would be showing it over and over again.

"When you have someone like Jason Puncheon in your side, you always have a chance."

Bradford started the game the better team and Lee Harrison had to be alert to tip over an Omar Daley cross-cum-shot.

In between that effort, Adam Birchall had two opportunities, but shot wide with the first and found the keeper's midriff with the second.

City's Barry Conlon was then denied by the outstretched boot of Harrison after being put free down the left, before the Bees started to gain control of the game.

Anthony Thomas and Birchall combined well, with Thomas seeing his 25-yard thunderbolt turned over by Ricketts.

From Ashley Carew's corner, Joe Devera's near-post header clipped the bar.

Both sides were to hit the woodwork twice in the game.

The Barnet opener finally came two minutes before the interval, Puncheon's whipped-in free-kick turned home by Birchall at the near post, even though the striker appeared to know little about it, the ball seemingly hitting him, rather than him attacking it.

It was the luck Barnet had been missing in recent games.

Bradford started the second half strongly and were level within seven minutes, Eddie Johnson beating Harrison with a cracking shot on the turn from just outside the box.

Thomas drove over at the other end almost immediately from the restart, but it was City who were now in control.

Daley was gifted three superb chances to put his side in front. He poked the first, from a Conoln knock-down, wide with just Harrison to beat and then clipped the outside of the post after being put in the clear by Conlon again.

The same player struck the post a second time just a few minutes later after making room for himself on the edge of the box.

Barnet weathered the storm and began to create chances themselves in the final stages.

And it was Puncheon who came the closest five minutes from time, his free-kick coming back off the bar.

Fortunately for the Bees, his second free-kick five minutes later was even more precise.

BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Devera, Yakubu, Burton, Gillet; Carew, Porter, Wright (Nicolau 75), Puncheon; Birchall (Hatch 86), Thomas. Subs not used: Beckwith, Ocearuill, Seanla.

Attendance: 2,412.