Report: Bradford City 2-1 Iron

The Iron were beaten 2-1 at Bradford City on Saturday, with Rekeil Pyke scoring his first goal for the club at the Utility Energy Stadium.

The Iron entered the match making one change from the side that faced Stevenage on Easter Monday, as Pyke came in for Joe Nuttall.

United got off to a poor start as Bradford took the lead within seconds of the game kicking off. Jamie Walker rolled the hosts into the lead, with an effort from just inside the box after build-up play down the left.

Soon after, there was an attack from the hosts where the ball came out to Elliot Watt on the edge of the area but he sent a volley way over.

The home side's second came in the fifth minute as ex-Iron youth trainee Charles Vernam curled a long range effort into the net, going past Watson at his left-hand post.

Jai Rowe picked up the first yellow card of the game soon after for a foul on Lee Angol.

With 20 minutes gone, Liam Feeney got down the left channel and forced a corner from Alex Gilliead following a blocked cross. The corner was cleared by the hosts though.

Seven minutes later, Watson was drawn into a point blank save to deny an effort by Angol from a couple of yards out after work by Walker down the left to work the opening.

The 30th minute saw an attempt from Angol, who lashed goalward on the turn, but it was wide of the target.

On 33 minutes, Pyke pulled a goal back with his first for the club. He closed the gap on a backpass and charged down Alex Bass’ clearance, with the ball bouncing into the net.

Six minutes later, Bradford came close again as Dion Pereria drove goalwards and teed up Walker. His initial effort was stopped before Pereira sent the rebound wide.

In the 42nd minute, Vernam came close to a second of the afternoon as his side-footed effort from the left cannoned back into play off the woodwork.

Soon after, another effort from Pereira was saved by Watson, who dived down low to his right to keep out the effort.

With 53 minutes gone, Matheson came in with a fine challenge to deny Vernam a tap in following a low ball in from the right.

Walker charged through in the 62nd minute and saw his shot blocked, but it ricocheted through to Angol. Watson came out to sprawl onto the ball, regaining possession. He stayed down, but didn't require treatment.

On 65 minutes, the ball was threaded through to Matheson, with the right-back making a neat run into the box. His effort was saved though.

Six minutes later, the hosts played on as Cameron Wilson stayed down injured. They kept hold of the ball before a 30-yard effort was sent high and wide, allowing the Iron attacker to receive treatment.

Wilson and Pyke were replaced soon after by Mason O'Malley and Harry Bunn, for the first Iron changes of the afternoon.

Bradford came close to a third on 77 minutes when Fiacre Kelleher nodded down a corner, but Caolan Lavery turned a close range effort over the bar.

There was a final Scunthorpe alteration on 80 minutes as Finley Shrimpton came on for Beestin.

Straight after that, a Feeney free-kick delivery from the left was sent in to Ryan Delaney, whose header drew a save from the home goalkeeper Bass.

The Iron then came out with the ball on the left with the ball flashed across the box. A tackle came in to deny an effort on goal, with the ball ricocheting just behind Bunn.

On 86 minutes, Gilliead checked back inside the box and feed Watt, but his shot went wide.

At the other end, Bunn drove into space and sent the ball wide for Ethan Young. He played a return pass inside the box to Bunn, who saw his effort turned behind for a corner.

On 89 minutes, Vernam was denied once more by a superb save from Watson as he sprung down low to his left to beat away the first time shot.

There were four minutes of added time but neither side created any more chances.

The Iron return to action with their final home game of the season against Hartlepool United next Saturday (3pm kick-off).

BRADFORD: Bass, Ridehalgh, Songo'o, Walker (Cooke, 78), Gilliead, Vernam, Kelleher, Watt (Sutton, 90), Angol (Lavery, 63), Hendrie, Pereira.

BRADFORD SUBS NOT USED: O'Donnell, Cook, Foulds, Evans.

IRON: Watson, Delaney, Beestin (Shrimpton, 80), Pyke (Bunn, 72), Rowe, Wilson (O'Malley, 72), Feeney, Gallimore, Moore-Billam, Young, Matheson.

IRON SUBS NOT USED: Foster, Nuttall, Lewis, Grant.

ATTENDANCE: 15,248 (338 away).