BRADFORD capped a remarkable season as three goals inside the first 28 minutes fired them into League One.
Efforts from James Hanson, Rory McArdle and leading scorer Nahki Wells proved enough to settle the contest as Northampton were left reeling at Wembley.
And the quickfire flurry made it a happy return to the capital for Phil Parkinson’s side and 25,000 of their fans, three months after an historic Capital One Cup final appearance.
PARTY TIME … Bradford boss Phil Parkinson celebrates
Bradford were unchanged from the side that started the second leg of their League Two play-off semi-final at Burton, where a 3-1 win secured a 5-4 aggregate victory.
Winger Ishmel Demontagnac and striker Clive Platt returned for Northampton after missing the return leg of their semi at Cheltenham, in which the Cobblers won both legs 1-0.
The Bantams settled quickly and were rewarded for their early composure with the opener in the 15th minute.
Northampton failed to clear Kyel Reid’s cross convincingly and Garry Thompson picked out Hanson at the far post to guide his header over stranded keeper Lee Nicholls.
Northampton had hardly got a foothold in the game when the Bantams doubled their lead four minutes later.
This time Nathan Doyle’s first-time cross to the near post was met by McArdle, who stole in ahead of a flat-footed defence to power home a header.
Aidy Boothroyd’s boys were being over-run and when Wells netted City’s third goal in the 28th minute, the contest appeared over.
OUT OF LUCK … Aidy Boothroyd’s side were sunk within the first half-hour
Thompson again played a key role, heading the ball back across goal following Reid’s cross for an unmarked Wells to volley home his 26th of the season and his eighth in as many games.
Roy Donovan headed a rare chance wide for the Cobblers towards the end of the first half and Clarke Carlisle was just off target with a similar effort before the interval.
There was no let-up from Bradford after the restart and only a finger-tip save from Nicholls denied them a fourth after Clarke’s attempted clearance had rebounded goalwards off Hanson.
Northampton substitutes Joe Widdowson and Adebayo Akinfenwa replaced Lee Collins and Platt, but it was Bradford who continued to threaten.
City fans paid tribute to the 56 supoorters who lost their lives at Valley Parade in 1985 with cheers and applause in the 56th minute, one week after the fire disaster’s 28th anniversary.
Reid fluffed his lines soon after when misdirecting a cross from Wells and the latter forced Nicholls into another save with a low shot as Parkinson’s men began to enjoy themselves.
Akinfenwa’s tame header at the end of a rare foray forward summed up the Cobblers’ disappointment and City cruised through the closing stages to leave League Two firmly behind them.
Bradford: McLaughlin, Darby, McArdle, Davies, Meredith, Thompson, Jones, Doyle (Ravenhill 87), Reid (Atkinson 78), Hanson, Wells (Connell 85). Subs not used: Duke, McHugh, Hines, Nelson. Booked: Doyle, Hanson.
Goals: Hanson 15, McArdle 19, Wells 28.
Northampton: Lee Nicholls, Tozer, Carlisle, Cameron, Collins (Widdowson 53), Hackett, Harding, Guttridge, Demontagnac (Hornby 70), O’Donovan, Platt (Akinfenwa 55). Subs not used: Snedker, Johnson, Langmead, Robinson.
Booked: Platt, O’Donovan, Carlisle.
Att: 47,127
Ref: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).
Football – The Sun
Description: Bradford 3-0 Northampton: Match report and pictures, Rating: 4.5, Reviewer: Unknown, ItemReviewed: Bradford 3-0 Northampton: Match report and pictures
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