The Miners went up against one of their 2023-24 NCEL Premier promotion rivals in this County Cup 1st round tie. The two sides scored ten goals across two entertaining games that season, and this one was another as our opponents gave us a stern test in difficult conditions.
Ben Grech-Brooksbank turned and put a low shot wide for the hosts on ten minutes, before Max Tweddle's rising shot went just over the bar after good work by Joe Allerton. Beating the offside trap on 19 mins, James Burgess picked out Ronnie McGrath who fired just beyond the far post. Oli Patrick then tested Red and Blacks keeper Luke Wilson with a powerful shot which he pushed wide at the near post. Burgess and McGrath were combining well with the latter shooting straight at Wilson when played in just inside the box.
There followed a couple of chances for Campion - Luke Jeffreys latching onto a ball forward and bringing a smart save from Harry Flatters, then Desmond Amponsah putting a low drive just past the far post when captain Ben Bodle's delivery was half cleared.
The Miners responded with the first of two well-worked goals on 31 mins to give ourselves the lead. A flowing move in from the left ended in McGrath flicking on to Burgess to find the net with a fierce volley.
Our Bradford opponents seemed to respond better to the opening goal however - Amponsah skipping challenges before seeing a shot deflected wide, before former Town midfielder Ewan Gregson's free-kick flashed wide of the far post. It looked like he'd found the equaliser three minutes before the break when he got the better of his man and lobbed the stranded Flatters, but the ball dropped just wide.
On 49 mins it was 1-1 when a poor backpass was intercepted by Luke Jeffries who slotted into the net.
Niall Tilsley prevented a quick turnaround when he headed clear James Clark's shot which took a deflection and looped up into the air.
There was a good chance down the other end on 53 mins when McGrath beat Wilson to Burgess' searching ball, but his shot was against the side netting.
A couple of dangerous moments around the hour mark saw Gregson volley wide when picked out by Amponsah, then from a free-kick the same man's looping effort struck the top of the crossbar.
Allerton came close to a first goal of the calendar year when his deflected shot from Burgess' cross went just wide.
Charlie Marshall and Mutty Al-Jahadhmy were introduced and in the end proved the difference. Al-Jahadhmy was denied at close range by Wilson on 83 mins, but a minute later combined again for the winning goal. Twisting and turning along the left, Al-Jahadhmy picked out Marshall in space who scored with a cracking finish into the far top corner.
The Miners head into the second round of the competition against currently unknown opponents, meanwhile after four matches on the road we return to the BD Community Stadium on Saturday when we entertain West Auckland Town (kick-off 3pm).
Town team: Flatters, Johnson (White 65), Tweddle, Savage, Tilsley, Barkway (c), M. F. "Mutty Junior" Al-Jahadhmy (Zachariou 65), McGrath (M. Al-Jahadhmy 75), Burgess, Patrick (McAleese-Shorney 90), Allerton (Marshall 79).
Cautions: Barkway 66.
Attendance: tbc.