Adel on the ball despite lengthy wait for first home game

And with the visiting side being newly-promoted Bradford, Adel knew they were in for a challenge. Coach Martin Sutherland had a game plan in mind – press high and don’t allow the opposition to settle. His players duly obliged as Bradford were treated to a view of things to come as Simon Ball opened the scoring for the second week running with a composed finish.

A period of sustained pressure followed and the men in orange were rewarded with a succession of short corners ending in Alex Belshire converting a drag flick that rocketed into the netting.

Adel were then guilty of relaxing, thinking they had their opponents shellshocked. Showing other ideas, Bradford created space and fought their way to the baseline and forced the ball back into the danger area before the last touch came off an Adel stick to wrong foot Tom Taylor in net.

As in previous seasons, losing their clean sheet galvanised Adel into action once again as they picked up the pace to force yet another short corner for themselves. With a change in tactics, it was Will Powley’s turn to restore the goal difference to two before half-time.

Once the game resumed, Adel went back on the offensive, but it seemed Bradford had them scouted as all forays towards the visitors’ goal were smothered with the game starting to become more fractured which, ultimately, favouring Bradford’s short, sharp style.

After gifting Bradford their second, Adel’s self-titled Xavi, Nathan Hemming, slotted the ball into the corner of the goal supported by good work from right-back, Crocker.

Bradford refused to surrender and gained a goal back as the momentum swung in their favour, causing Adel to drop a bit deeper to regain control. A mistake from Bradford was punished after some swift interplay between Ball and Leeming ended up with Ball slotting the ball around the advancing keeper for Tom Hawthorne to finish into an empty net.

Adel’s 5th goal seemed to knock the Bradford momentum and further goals were added from Harris and a second corner from Belshire sealed the 7-3 win.

Happy with the points but disappointed with the level of concentration at times, coach Sutherland knows there are still improvements to be made ahead of a double-header at the weekend.