A 25th minute winner from the returning Gozie Ugwu earned Yeovil Town an invaluable second home win of the season against high flying Bradford City this afternoon.

Ugwu’s finish after a flick on from Kieffer Moore was the only goal of a tight game where the home side had the majority of the chances with home keeper Jed Steer having very little to do all game. The win doesn’t lift the Glovers off the bottom of the table but now leaves the side just three points off safety and Leyton Orient in 21st place.

Manager Gary Johnson brought in two strikers late on in the week and introduced them both from the start. Ugwu, signed after a spell at SPL side Dunfermline started up front alongside Norwich City loan signing Jamar Loza with Kieffer Moore dropping back to cover the lack of bodies in the back four. The striker-cum-defender had a superb game at the back and was in with a shout for man-of-the-match.

It was his defensive colleague at right back, Seth Twumasi, who had the first sight of goal but his right foot shot sailed well wide of Jordan Pickford’s post. Ugwu then volleyed well over on twelve minutes after a bout of head tennis.

The new strike pairing of Ugwu and Loza combined well on 24 minutes but Loza’s shot lacked power and was easily held by Pickford. But it wasn’t long before the Glovers took the lead and Ugwu was involved again. Sam Foley’s free kick was swung in and Kieffer Moore’s back header was latched on to by Ugwu who controlled and fired into the corner.

Foley then went close to making it 2-0 as the Glovers dominated with Steer mainly reduced to taking goal kicks and collecting harmless chances. James Hanson tested Steer with a side footed effort but the keeper saved easily and later in the half, he watched Billy Knott’s header go over.

Ajay Leitch-Smith headed at Pickford and the Sunderland loan stopper also gathered a Joe Edwards left footed shot as the half closed.

A mistake at the heart of the back four allowed Jon Stead to break down the right flank but his perfect cross was blazed over by Hanson from four yards out. Bantams boss Phil Parkinson made a double change after with Stead and Halliday replaced by Zoko and Yeates.

Hanson headed wide and Knott pulled a right foot shot wide too as Bradford looked to level the game but the rest of the second half was a curious affair with Steer barely tested and Pickford having to watch most of the game too.

There was a scare late on for Yeovil when two minutes into stoppage time, sub Alan Sheehan had a free kick 25 yards out but it was a poor effort and went well wide of goal. Three minutes later, ref Darren Sheldrake blew for full time and Yeovil’s first home win since Peterborough United on 20th September was secured.