Shrewsbury: Garner, Moss, Langmead, Murdock, Tierney, Herd, Drummond, Hall, Pugh, Hibbert (Leslie 82), Nicholson. Subs Not Used: MacKenzie, Kempson, Humphrey, Ryan.

Booked: Hall, Hibbert, Drummond.

Goals: Hibbert 9 pen.

Bradford: Ricketts, Williams, Wetherall, Bower, Heckingbottom, Daley, Evans, Johnson (Nix 81), Rhodes (Colbeck 83), Joynes (Conlon 75), Ndumbu-Nsungu. Subs Not Used: Ainge, Phelan.

Booked: Williams.

Ref: D McDermid (Hampshire).
Assistants - Nick Hobbis and Richard Smith
Fourth Official - Anthony Horton

Attendance: 6413/889

Gary Peters names a strong side as they look to get their first League game off to a winning start, new signing Stuart Nicholson goes straight into the starting line-up.

Town started very brightly with a couple of early chances, the first came from Stewart Drummond with a header from free-kick and then a great ball from Hibbert put Pugh in on goal but he flashed his shot across the face of the goal.

Town were in lead before the 10-minute mark was off up and it came from the pace of Pugh. Pugh was showing his speed and skills down the left and had been causing Darren Williams a lot of problems, Pugh pushed the ball towards Williams and broke into the box with the Bradford right-back sending Pugh flying for a stonewall penalty. Dave Hibbert placed the ball and made no mistakes sending a low shot flying past Ricketts.

Pugh kept pushing down the left and was causing Williams all sorts of problems, and after taking Pugh out for the umpteenth time Williams but still the Bradford player stayed out of the refs book.

Danny Hall was the first Town player into the book, Omar Daly broke down the centre of the field and his pace looked dangerous but Danny Hall slid in for a great looking challenge, Daly went flying and stayed down with ref McDermid some how giving a free-kick and a yellow card for Hall.

Pugh was causing all the problems for Town and once again he breezed past Williams and got to the by-line, he then put in an excellent cross to the near post that Hibbert got in front of his defender to get in a great header but the post was there to save the visitors.

Bradford were starting to get into the game more as the half hour mark approached, they were getting to see more of the ball around the Town box with some good sights of goal.

Ref McDermid was making some strange decisions and non more so than when the ball saw cleared by Langmead, it hung up just over the halfway line with Mark Bower waiting for it to drop, Hibbert jumped in with his head but was caught by Bower's elbow, but ref McDermid gave the free-kick to Bradford and booked Hibbert.

Bradford tested the Town woodwork just after the half-hour when they had been given another lucky free-kick, ref McDermid called Stewart Drummond across to have a long word to calm things down. The ball was just over 25-yards out from goal but Paul Heckingbotton smacked in a great drive which beat Garner but hit the post and came out with Langmead clearing things up.

Chances were still falling for Town and they were showing some great glimpses around the box, Hibbert was getting in great positions and Nicholson's pace was electric. Hibbert showed some great touches in the box as he looked for the angle, he then pushed it wide to Drummond who then put a cross towards Pugh at the back post but it was just over hit.

On the stroke of half-time ref McDermid was again into the action, Bradford broke after a Town attack but Stewart Drummond was there to get in and get in a good tackle, but the ref saw something different and gave a foul against Drummond and booked the Town captain.

Town finished with a flourish after forcing a corner, it was swung across and dropped first to Hall for a shot and then Murdock with another effort that was blocked.

Half-time: 0-0

The second half started with both sides looking to that the early advantage but neither getting on top. Both showed glimpses around the oppositions boxes but neither keeper was forced into any serious action.

At times both sides were looking a little nervy with some passages of play breaking down with a lax pass or an over hit ball. Bradford were preferring the big boot out of defence but when Daley got the ball he looked like he could cause problems with his pace.

Town were happy with the one goal cushion and were working hard to close down the visitors and stifle any space that dropped to them. When the chances did come though Town were willing to attack Bradford, a ball out to the right saw Hibbert take chase and gain possession, he then continued his run down the right before spotting Pugh running in at the back post, Hibbert put over a great cross that Pugh hit first time but the angle was tight and the ball went behind the intended target.

Town weren't keeping the ball up front and this was allowing Bradford to find space, a Town attack broke down and the ball came to Nathan Joynes, he continued his run through the centre of the park before letting loose a long rang effort that Garner looking worried as it curled just past the target.

It was end to end stuff at times with Town having a string of corners that pulled Bradford apart but couldn't get the shot in to test Donovan, then Bradford broke quickly with Guylain N'Dumbu-N'Sungu who showed good pace to find space, he then played in a great pass to put in Daley down the right, Garner was back peddling but Daley skewed his shot across the face of goal and behind for a goal kick.

Town nearly had a second goal with just over 15-minutes remaining, a corner saw lopped over to the back post and there was Kelvin Langmead with a brilliant diving header but Paul Evans and Ricketts combined well on the line to block the goal bound effort.

A hopeful ball forward dropped in between Ricketts on the Bradford goal and Hibbert, they both tried to make the ball but Ricketts just managed to get in first, he didn't clear well and the ball fell to Nicholson, he drilled in a low shot from 40-yards out towards the empty goal but the ball flew just wide of the farpost.

The best chances were falling to Town and with Pugh now playing up front alongside Nicholson Town were trying to get in with passing and pace. A thrown from Tierney was taken shot to Pugh out on the left, he took the ball past his marker and then curled a cross towards Nicholson, with his back to goal he flicked a great header that was sneaking in at the back post until Ricketts got across his goal to flick the ball around the post with a superb save.

Bradford's efforts were coming from long range but they were good efforts, N'Dumbu-N'Sungu showed great strength to brush off three Town players and continue his run cross field, he laid the ball up to Daley who drilled a low drive from 30-yards out but Garner was quickly across his box to get down and save well at the near post.

Bradford had another great effort after Town failed to clear their lines, the ball fell to Town old boy Paul Evans some 35-yards out, he drilled in a vicious effort that was going in until Garner got across and somehow kept a strong arm to keep the ball out and get it away from danger.

Full-time: 1-0