BRADFORD Town went top of the Toolstation League Division One after cantering to a 2-0 victory over an ordinary Oldland Abbotonians outfit.

A goal in each half from top scorer Matt Minnis was enough to see off the visitors, who rarely got in behind the Bradford defence the entire game.

The hosts never hit top form against their seventh-placed rivals, but they were helped by Oldland showing little ambition in the final third throughout the match.

Bradford had the better of a stale opening half hour, although their only shot during that period came in the first minute, when Toby Dawson forced a near-post save from Lionel Fear.

Lewis Porter palmed away a spectacular long-range lob from Wayne Pearce with eight minutes played, before Matt Penman made an excellent last-ditch tackle to deny Matt Huxley a clear run on goal.

Minnis fizzed a shot just over after he exploded past Jordan Richards and Dawson then saw his near-post flick saved by Fear.

The opener came on the half hour when Oldland allowed Dawson plenty of time to pick out a cross on the left flank.

His centre found the unmarked Minnis close in, and he headed comfortably into the net to give the home side a deserved lead.

The goal did bring a reaction from the visitors, and Craig Webber had his dipping strike turned away by the scrambling Porter at the start of a spell of moderate pressure for the Os.

The visitors wasted two free kicks in promising positions before Huxley created space for himself and drilled wide with half time approaching.

With the second half only 50 seconds old, Oldland looked certain to score when Pearce was played in by Tyrone Fudgell, but the striker dragged well wide of the far post.

Huxley hit a curling drive just over the bar and Pearce tried his luck from distance on the hour, before Bradford had a 10-minute spell of pressure that ultimately resulted in the second goal.

Skipper Jerad O'Pray's stinging drive was gathered by Fear at the second attempt and Milburn shot straight at the Oldland custodian when one-on-one.

Bradford got the killer goal on 73 minutes when Milburn was granted space on the left flank, and his low ball was slid into the roof of the net by the predatory Minnis.

The visitors showed little desire to get themselves back into the game following the second goal, preferring instead to keep the scoreline to a minimum.

Captain Jon Mayo shot wide in a rare Oldland attack, but Bradford still looked the more likely to score.

Milburn had a blockbusting half-volley parried by Fear, and from the resulting corner, O'Pray had his headed effort disallowed.

A decent strike from Mayo was deflected wide deep into injury time, but by then the Os were a beaten team.

Bradford manager Paul Shanley said afterwards: “We weren't at our best, but when you're at the top you've got to grind out results, and that's what we did today.

“I'm pleased with the result, not so much the performance, but it's three points.”