BRADFORD Town manager Paul Shanley says that he was immensely proud of his players as they took the fight to Southern League giants Poole Town in the FA Cup last weekend.

Shanley’s men were eventually beaten 4-0 in their first-ever first qualifying round appearance but held the current Southern League Premier Division leaders at bay until midfielder Jake Hiscocks was sent off for a second booking just before the hour mark.

Michael Walker, Mark Jermyn, Luke Burbidge and on-loan AFC Bournemouth striker John O’Hanlon all found the net for Poole as Bradford’s resistance finally wilted but the Trowbridge road boss says that he couldn’t be more chuffed with his side after their determined display in Dorset.

“I’m just extremely proud of my players. We matched them for a long time to keep it at 0-0 for an hour and I don’t think that Ed (Baldy, goalkeeper) had really had a save to make,” said Shanley.

“Jake Hiscocks was got two bookings for two challenges and we’ll never know what would have happened if we hadn’t had him sent off.

“We took 70 fans down there and that’s huge for a club our size. I think it shows just how far we’ve come on and off the pitch in the last few years.”

Bradford return to league action tomorrow with a trip to Willand Rovers, with Shanley’s men also away to high-flying Bitton next Tuesday.

Steve Hulbert is still ruled out with a broken foot whilst Joe Stradling, who is away on holiday, and the suspended Daniel Shanley miss Saturday’s trip to Devon.

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