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Macclesfield Town 0 Bradford City 2

18/ 8/2008

JOURNEYMAN striker Peter Thorne struck twice in the first half to leave Macclesfield without a point in the new season.

The former Stoke, Norwich and Cardiff hit man struck twice inside the first 15 minutes to leave Keith Alexander fearing another rout, following their 4-0 defeat on the opening day of the season against Shrewsbury.

Indeed the Silkmen were in danger of being blown away in a first half that was totally dominated by promotion hopefuls Bradford.

Thorne’s strikes after 10 and 14 minutes emphasised the visitors’ superiority and took his tally for the season to four.

That Macc managed to keep the score down to just the two by the break could be seen as something of a minor triumph.

The signs were ominous from the moment Thorne struck in the 10th minute when, left unmarked at the far post, he looped a header past Jonny Brain, following a cross from Joe Colbeck.

And Macc didn’t learn their lessons with the striker allowed to capitalise on ponderous defending four minutes later to double Bradford’s lead.

Omar Daley’s low ball was loosely controlled by Michael Boulding, but as the Silkmen defenders dithered, Thorne pounced to fire home from eight yards.

Macc’s best chances in the first half fell to Gareth Evans, who fired straight at Rhys Evans after a one-two with Martin Gritton, and then shot wide from close range when meeting Danny Thomas’ cross.

Alexander will at least have been buoyed by his side’s response in the second half, when they asked much more questions of the visitors.

Evans again came close with an acrobatic volley that was turned away, while substitute Francis Green was twice denied.

Still Bradford could have extended their lead with Thorne twice coming close to collecting his hat-trick and Boulding’s spinning shot beating Brain, but coming back off the post.

Macc might have made it a nervier finish with several late openings, but Gritton and Green wasted the best of them.

At the other end Bradford hit the woodwork for a second time in the half when Daley’s explosive shot cannoned off the upright in the closing minutes.

MACC face Crewe away in the first round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern section.