Despite a spirited performance on the road, Jenson Metcalfe’s second-half strike was enough to separate the sides at the University of Bradford Stadium as Bradford City took all three points.
The Valiants made the trip to West Yorkshire to take on Bradford City in our final game of 2025.
Caretaker Manager Jamie Smith made four changes to the side following defeat at Huddersfield three days ago. Jayden Stockley, Jordan Shipley, Kyle John & Ryan Croasdale all returned to the starting XI.
The hosts started on the front foot and looked to boss the game from the get-go. However, it was the Valiants who had the first effort of the game in the third minute when Jordan Shipley took aim from outside the area, but it sailed over the bar and into the empty T L Dallas Stand. Three minutes later, Jenson Metcalfe tried his luck from distance, but it was well wide and never troubling Ben Amos’ goal.
After a tightly-contested half thirty-five minutes at Valley Parade, the game sparked into life.
Following a drop-ball in the Vale box and then some good build-up play, the ball eventually fell to Jordan Shipley in the area, but his effort from the left side was well wide of the goal.
Moments later, Vale came close again. Ryan Croasdale led the counter-attack as he bought the ball forward and found Shipley down the left side. He then played the ball into the feet of Jayden Stockley, who took a touch before firing a deflected well over the bar.
The hosts had a good opportunity just before the break. Stephen Humphrys broke down the right side and cut inside before firing an effort from the right side of the box, but his effort took a deflection and crashed into the side netting. This led to a barrage of corners from the hosts, which were well dealt with by the Vale backline.
Ten minutes into the second half, Vale won a free kick on halfway. Jordan Shipley sent in a deep cross that was headed on by Ben Heneghan into the path of Devante Cole, but his first touch evaded him, and it rolled into the grateful arms of Sam Walker in the Bradford goal.
Moments later, the hosts came inches away from taking the lead. A well-worked throw-in down the right-side lead to Humphrys cutting inside and curling an effort towards the far post, but Ben Heneghan was there at the right place at the right time to head off the line and keep the scoreline level.
Twenty-five minutes from time, the deadlock was broken. After a well-worked corner from the right, the ball was played to Jenson Metcalfe on the edge of the box, who took a touch to set himself before curling an effort into the top corner to give his side the lead.
In the 78th minute, the hosts came close to adding a second when a cross from the left was met by Stephen Humphrys, who rose highest before powering a header off the upright and out for a goal-kick.
The referee indicated ten minutes of additional time following a few long stoppages over the course of the half. In the first minute of this additional time, the Valiants came close as a corner from the right was met by Ben Heneghan at the back post but he didn’t quite time his jump and his header went well over the crossbar.
TEAM NEWS
Bradford City: Sam Walker, Brad Halliday, Ibou Touray, Max Power ©, Antoni Sarcevic, Stephen Humphrys, Ciaran Kelly, Tyreik Wright (90+8), Jenson Metcalfe, Curtis Tilt.
Subs not used: Joe Hilton, Josh Neuville, Calum Kavanagh, Tommy Leigh, Will Swan, Neill Byrne
Port Vale: Ben Amos, Mitch Clark, Jaheim Headley, Ben Heneghan, George Byers ©, Jayden Stockley (Mo Faal 74’), Ryan Croasdale, Kyle John (Ronan Curtis 87’), Cameron Humphrys, Jordan Shipley (George Hall 74’), Devante Cole.
Subs not used: Joe Gauci, Rhys Walters, Ben Waine, Jesse Debrah, Mo Faal