**DISCLAMIER** This was written before and during the match, completed and filed minutes after the final whistle. Has not been read over and fixed. Wanted to see how well I could do a proper match report. The report was sent to various Yorkshire newspapers which the green light to use if they wanted. Let me know what you think.

A disappointing end to a disappointing season for the home side, the fans were not happy to see five goals conceded at home in what was a lack lustre performance. Crewe on the other hand will hope to build on a result like this next season. If they can hold on top scorer Clayton Donaldson and the very impressive Byron Moore then they could make at least a playoff run next season.

With both teams having very little to play for today’s match could have played out as a dead rubber, with the memory of 56 fans that died 26 years ago being remembered it was never going to be a nothing game. Crewe and Bradford City have not exactly been in the greatest form in recent weeks, only three wins between both teams in the last five games underlines the mid-table position they occupy on the last day of the season.

The Coral Windows stadium saw 11,000 people enter through the gates, not only to watch their teams’ last game of the season but to pay respects to the fans that tragically lost their lives 26 years ago when a fatal accident took away their lives. Before the game could get underway there was moments applause and then an impeccably respected minutes silence in honour of the fans that are no longer with us.

Caretaker manager Peter Jackson made two changes from the side that draw 1-1 with Hereford Town last Saturday. Scottish goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin came in for Lenny Pidgeley and wide midfielder Dominic Rowe replaced Gareth Evans. Unsurprisingly Dario Gradi made two defensive changes from the side that were beaten 2-0 by Wycombe. Captain David Artell and right-back Mat Mitchel-King coming in for Daniel Blanchett and Joel Grant.

It was nearly a nightmare start for the home side after a wayward pass in midfield Clayton Donaldson was put through on goal only for his first touch to let him down and McLaughlin rushed out collect the ball.

Soon after Bradford were punished for a second wayward pass. David Syers first touch let him down he tried to pass back to his defence, losing his balance the pass found its way to Shaun Miller. The strikers first touch took him round McLaughlin, his second found the net. Not the start caretaker boss Jackson would have wanted.

Only ten minutes later and the scores were level. Jake Speight did well to beat his man and jinked his way into the box Crewe’s Captain David Artell clumsily bundled over the striker and referee G Salisbury had the easy decision to make and pointed to the spot. It was Speight himself that stepped up and smashed the spot kick past Taylor to level the scores.

Both teams then went close Danny Shelley saw his 25 yard shot tipped over by McLaughlin then moments later Rowe saw his shot parried wide from 20 yards, Taylor could only turn it away for a corner.

The resulting corner lead to Crewe taking the lead. Daley’s cross was cleared at the near post. Byron Moore latched onto the clearance and raced towards goal, the defence were slow to react and when Moore squared the ball to Miller inside the box, his first touch finish gave him and Crewe their second goal.

Byron Moore’s movement throughout the whole game was exceptional. Starting from the right flank he was given license to cut inside and outnumber the Bradford defence. Playing in-between Bradford’s defence and midfield he was given plenty of the ball and constantly found the forward runs of Clayton Donaldson. Football at this level is often described as kick and rush but Moore was a different class today. Jackson’s team had no answer for the 22-year old in a very impressive first half.

Only minutes after the second Crewe had their third, the home side guilty of giving away too much space in midfield found themselves under some pressure, failing to clear the ball it fell to Clayton Donaldson on the edge of the box, he turned to his right let off a low shot and McLaughlin could only watch it fly into the net. The ‘keeper looked unsighted but should have done better.

Groans from the home fans fed down to the players and a look of demoralisation set about the stadium. It was to get worse before the interval when David Shelley again tried his luck from outside the area, this time McLaughlin got nowhere it and the net bulged for the fourth time. Again the keeper should have done better; he got his hands to the shot but failed to push it away. The half saw Crewe with a very comfortable 4-1 lead; it would take a miracle for Bradford to pull it back.

Jackson made two changes before the restart Luke O’Brien and Alex Flett coming on for Hanson and Daley. The shape changed to 4-5-1 – Crewe had bossed the midfield in the first half, stopping the movement of Byron Moore obviously on the manager’s mind. O’Brien looked to have been tasked with following Moore from the flank but on a few occasions early on the slightest bit of movement saw Moore find some space inbehind.

Luckily for the home fans Crewe with a three goal lead took their foot off the pedal and the second half was played at a pedestrian pace. Bradford had their moments but they were far too little. Dominic Rowe got the crowd on their feet when he cut inside from the right; put the ball onto his left foot, but his shot flew metres over the bar.

Crewe finished the game off with 24 minutes to go, shouts for a penalty went up when the ball bounced off a Bradford defenders arms. The ball then fell into the path of Danny Shelley and his shot from the edge of the box snuck inside the right hand post. 5-1 to the away side and Bradford’s misery was complete.

With the result in no doubt, Bradford spent the final minutes of the match playing the ball around with very little purpose of direction as if it was homage to the season that had just finished.