Gulls end long wait for win

Gulls end long wait for win

Published Mar. 20, 2013 7:15 a.m. ET

Chelsea midfielder Ramires has been ruled out of Brazil's friendly with Italy on Thursday due to injury and will be assessed ahead of the clash with Russia five days later.

Ramires has not travelled to Switzerland with the rest of the Brazil squad for Thursday's friendly in Geneva, instead staying behind in London for treatment on a thigh muscle injury.

The midfielder suffered a strained right adductor during the Blues' 2-0 Premier League win over West Ham on Sunday.

The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed on their official website Ramires will be re-evaluated ahead of the game with Russia at Stamford Bridge on March 25th.

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Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has already had to rule out Paris Saint-Germain winger Lucas (ankle) and Paulinho (thigh) for the international friendlies.

It was the Bantams' first triumph at Valley Parade in 2013 - their last home success being a 2-1 win over Accrington on Boxing Day. Since then, Bradford had suffered three defeats and two draws.

The only goal of Tuesday night's encounter came in the eighth minute when Kyel Reid's free-kick found James Hanson at the far post and he headed the ball down for Garry Thompson to fire home from five yards.

The goal crowned a bright start by Bradford, who almost went in front in the first minute when Hanson's header was cleared off the line by Michael Harriman from Reid's corner.

Bradford enjoyed most of the play but were unable to add to their lead and Matt McClure missed a great chance to equalise in the 49th minute.

He miscued his header when Dean Morgan's cross found him unmarked and the home side held on to complete a double over Wycombe.

Paul Wotton fired the visitors in front from the penalty spot on Tuesday night, before Reuben Reid made sure of a win that boosts Argyle's fight against relegation from League Two.

The visitors could have gone in front in the first half, but Jason Banton's 12-yard shot got a touch from Paris Cowan-Hall who was in an offside position.

The error of judgement did not prove costly as Argyle went ahead in the 57th minute, with Wotton scoring from the spot for the second game in succession.

The penalty was awarded after Bilel Mohsni brought down Joe Bryan inside the area and allowed Wooton to roll a shot into the bottom-right corner of the net.

Shrimpers strikers Britt Assombalonga and Gavin Tomlin were both denied by Argyle keeper Jake Cole, before Reid made sure of the visitors' win with a neat close-range finish in the 75th minute.

Having seen Andrew Frampton sent off in the closing minutes at Spotland, Martin Allen's visitors could consider themselves fortunate to take anything from the clash.

The Gills found themselves a goal down after 12 minutes and had only themselves to blame. A defensive mix up between Gills defender Leon Legge and goalkeeper Stuart Nelson saw the ball drop invitingly for George Donnelly and the Dale forward hooked a fine finish into the unguarded net from 25 yards.

The visitors turned up the heat with a spell of pressure early in the second half which saw Danny Kedwell go close twice. His first effort, blasted at goal from a tight angle, was saved by Josh Lillis. Minutes later he saw a glancing header bounce inches wide of the post.

But it was third time lucky for the frontman when Matt Fish delivered an inviting cross from the right flank into the six-yard box, Kedwell making no mistake with his headed finish.

Rochdale finished strongly and Gillingham were reduced to 10 men for the last eight minutes of the match after Frampton was dismissed having clashed with Grant over a poor challenge by Donnelly on Legge.

The Bees were always on top against the play-off hopefuls and Byrne reacted fastest to open the scoring at Underhill on Tuesday night before Gambin made sure of the points after a terrible defensive mix-up.

The win moves Edgar Davids' side two points clear of the relegation zone, and it was skipper Byrne who showed the way for the hosts.

Curtis Weston's close-range shot was blocked by Scott Davies in the Fleetwood goal but Irish midfielder Byrne was on hand to fire home in the 23rd minute.

Alan Goodall came close for the visitors before the break but it was Barnet who always looked the more likely to add to the scoresheet.

And after the break it was Gambin who struck, walking the ball into an empty net after a terrible miscommunication between Davies and Shaun Beeley left the keeper stranded.

Late on, Jon Nurse had a chance to seal it for the Bees but fired wastefully wide, before Byrne was denied.

On-loan Notts County midfielder Joss Labadie got the relegation-threatened Gulls off to a flying start with his second-minute goal, heading home a cross from forward-thinking left-back Thomas Cruise in Tuesday night's League Two clash.

United's joy was doubled six minutes later, on their second attack, as winger Jordan Chapell's thumping goalbound drive was back-heeled past Spireites keeper Tommy Lee by target man Howe.

Man-of-the-match Howe then sent a 25-yard shot screaming past Lee, skimming inches past the post, before heading just wide in the next attack.

Labadie and on-loan Southend striker Elliot Benyon both went close before home keeper Michael Poke went full stretch to palm over Conor Townsend's thumping free-kick strike.

Chesterfield set United nerves jangling when Liam Cooper headed home sub Mark Randall's cross in the 77th minute.

But United held firm with central defenders Brian Saah and Angus MacDonald resolute in front of busy Poke, giving Alan Knill his first win in charge.

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