Bradford always looked the better side, but took their time to stamp their authority on the game as they scored a 3-1 Yorkshire League Division One success over Gainsborough Rose at Lincoln.

In the opening minutes Bradford mounted several promising attacks and young Luther Brown, playing at left centre, was unfortunate to see his quick shot well saved by the home keeper.

The early goal which Bradford had been looking for came rather fortunately from a goalkeeper error. Caught off balance by a mis-cued Richard Harpin reverse flick, he kicked over the ball attempting a "save clearance" in the 15th minute. Four minutes later Sam Baxter came close to scoring inside the post with a timely deflection at a penalty corner.

With ten minutes of the half remaining Bradford lost the services of Mark Hammond, "sin binned" for dissent.

He was still off the field early in the second half when Gainsborough clawed their way to level terms following a battery of four consecutive penalty corners. Rob Terry was beaten with a narrow angle shot when skipper Ian Lettice failed to clear his lines.

Gradually Bradford restored command and began playing their best hockey of the game. Hammond's return coincided with this improved team performance and as if to atone for his sins he promptly robbed the Gainsborough centre back of the ball when attempting a clearance and rounded the sweeper to place the ball out of the keeper's reach.

Four minutes later, Jaspal Panesar increased the lead with a commanding flick at a penalty corner.

At 3-1 Gainsborough began to lose heart and Harpin latched on to a Luther Brown pass from the left, rounded the keeper but his finishing shot struck the full-back on the body and although he put away the rebound, a penalty stroke had been awarded a split second before.

Hammond's well executed flick beat the keeper only to find the post. Five minutes later Harpin again went desperately close with a first time sweep from a well directed Backhouse pass into the circle.

Shortly after this Hammond was carried from the field having been struck on the leg by a sharply rising clearance.