BRADFORD Town manager Danny Greaves is content with his half-term report heading into a crucial festive period for the club.

Despite the disappointment of going out of the Wiltshire Senior Cup to Highworth Town last week, Bradford responded in fine style as they defeated Bridport 3-1 on Saturday.

Mark Wall put the hosts ahead at the break at Trowbridge Road but Bradford struggled to kill off the tie and Edward Butcher hauled Bridport level midway through the second period.

The hosts upped the tempo again and a late double from Kane Simpson ensured all three points remained in Wiltshire.

“It was a great result,” said Greaves. “Bridport have just picked up in the last few games, they beat Willand on the weekend prior and they beat Chipping Sodbury, scoring nine goals in the process.

“We went into the game on the back of a really disappointing performance on Wednesday and it was a great reaction from the boys.

“The first 20 or 30 minutes is probably the best we have played all season, keeping the ball, creating a lot of chances and we managed to get our goal from a set-piece, which is something we have been working on in training.

“We should have gone in at half time a couple of goals up but it wasn’t to be. Second half, again, we have started well and dominated and they have got a goal against the run of play.

“We could have put our heads down but we made a change straight after the goal and it worked for us.”

That result meant that Bradford have now tasted defeat just once in their last nine games and with a local derby against second-placed Melksham Town on Boxing Day, as well as an FA Vase fourth-round tie with Southall, their first game of the new year, in the offing, Greaves is happy with where his side are currently at.

“I’m really pleased with how the season has gone so far,” he added. “We’ve still got loads to play for. You don’t want to be getting to the halfway point with nothing to play for in the league, nothing to play for in cup competitions.

“It’s just about trying to push on now in the second half of the season, which starts with two massive games.

“There’s the Boxing Day derby with Melksham Town, which I think is there last game at their old ground, so they are not going to want to bow out with a defeat against us.”

Melksham saw their game at home to Street postponed because of power failure at the Conigre that meant the floodlights could not be used.