Football: THAT'S RICH

COLCHESTER 3

Garcia 41, 56, Iwelumo 63

BRADFORD 1

Windass 37

PROMOTION-CHASING Colchester came from behind to register a club- record ninth successive win in all competitions.

Two goals from Richard Garcia and another from Chris Iwelumo helped Phil Parkinson celebrate his manager of the month award in style.

However, Dean Windass nearly handed the Bantams the perfect start. The veteran produced a fine curling effort from 20 yards inside 43 seconds which Colchester goalkeeper Aidan Davison managed to keep out.

Us defender Garry Richards then epitomised the fighting spirit inside the Layer Road camp as he twice made brilliant blocks to prevent Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Windass from testing Davison. It was Colchester, though, who came closest to opening the scoring when John White saw his 25-yard volley hit the crossbar.

Windass could not keep out of the action, however, and he was penalised for handball 18 yards from his own goal. Windass had his hands raised again in the 37th minute as he celebrated putting Bradford ahead, drilling home his third goal in four games.

But Bradford's lead lasted just four minutes as Australian striker Garcia restored parity, heading Greg Halford's cross past goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts for his fifth goal in four games.

Windass nearly restored Bradford's advantage within two minutes, but Davison pulled off an excellent save to deny him a second.

Ricketts then matched his counterpart by making an equally- impressive finger-tip stop to keep out Yeates' 18-yard curler just before half-time.

The Jamaican keeper repeated the trick moments after the break to foil Halford and he then frustrated Iwelumo in the 53rd minute.

Colchester were flying, however, and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 56th minute, Garcia grabbing his second goal with a neat header from Richards' cross.

Ricketts had to be alert again on the hour to deny Yeates and then made a stunning save to tip over Garcia's volley as Colchester were rampant. But from the resulting corner, a Kevin Watson delivery was headed home by Iwelumo for his 15th goal of the campaign.

Yeates fired a shot wide before Tom Penford drilled an effort just wide as Bradford tried to get back into the game.

With 20 minutes remaining, Andrew Cooke saw his effort saved by Davison.

Bradford boss Colin Todd sent on veteran striker Steve Clar-idge with 15 minutes remaining before Bridge-Wilkinson saw his effort blocked as the visitors continued to press.

The Bantams refused to give up and in injury-time Danny Cadamarteri's drive was blocked by Pat Baldwin before Windass, who else, nearly had the final say when his crisp shot was kept out by Davison.

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