Sidmouth Town AFC 2-3 Bradford Town FC | Match Report

Bradford Town started the New Year off in an exciting manner, with a win over Sidmouth Town in a five goal thriller away from home on Saturday 3rd January.

Jensen Wakefield sparked the match into life within the first 30 seconds after controlling a pass in the midfield, and placing the ball in the bottom right corner of the net from the edge of the box after making an impressive solo run through the opposition’s half. The hosts reacted quickly, with the Sidmouth equaliser finding the back of the net in the 13th minute.

We continued to build up pressure on our hosts as Wakefield delivered a cross which was headed narrowly over the crossbar by Leo Gallazi in the 21st minute. The duo continued to combine shortly after, this time in the form of Wakefield finding himself on the end of a Gallazi cross in the 24th minute, but our opening goalscorer was unable to find the back of the net on this occasion. The match continued to remain balanced, with Sidmouth creating a chance from a corner in the 40th minute, but the Devonian side were unable to convert. This saw us enter the break at 1-1. 

As we kicked off the second half, it was Tom Mack who attempted to edge the Blues in front once again, but his 47th minute strike only found the side netting. It was Sidmouth who then took the lead for the first time in the 59th minute with a close-range effort. We continued to push to find an equaliser, and came close with a long-range shot from Wakefield in the 64th minute which hit the inside of both posts before bouncing out. After a determined run to beat his marker, Tom Mack fired the ball across the pitch to the feet of Gallazi whose effort was nestled in the bottom corner of the net from just inside the 18 yard box, drawing the us level at 2-2 as we entered the final 20 minutes. 

We made a pivotal double substitution a minute later, with Josiah McKayle and Curtis Dunn replacing Tom Mack and Owen Allison in the 72nd minute. Another change came in the 75th, when Theo Black entered the action in the place of Jacob Mead.

The scoreline remained two a piece as the clock ticked past the 85 minute mark, when Dunn was fouled on the attack and we were awarded a free kick just outside the box. Dunn stood over the ball, picked his spot, and fired an effort into the far top corner, sending the travelling Blues into a frenzy, and restoring our lead for the third time.

With five minutes left, our final change came in the form of Kegan Smart replacing Jensen Wakefield. We continued to battle a determined Sidmouth side until the final whistle, with Jaiden Pearce, Stan Pagett, Ashton Shanley, and Tom Creed all making vital defensive contributions. As the final whistle was blown, the scoreline stood at 3-2.

Starting off 2026 with three important points, as well as making it four wins from four in the league, we continue our campaign on Saturday 10th January, as we welcome Newquay AFC to Trowbridge Road. The Blues now sit 10th in the Jewson Western Premier Division, with 33 points from 25 matches.