Notts County slipped to only their second defeat in eight games this afternoon with a 3-1 home defeat to Bradford City.

After a scoreless first half the Magpies took the lead on fifty-eight minutes as Ryan Jarvis calmly slotted away his first goal for the Club, but just five minutes later the Bantams hit back through Peter Thorne to draw level.

The Bantams then took control with goals from Joe Colbeck and Alex Rhodes to secure a comfortable victory - and both sides had opportunities to add to the four second-half goals in a lively second period which ultimately ended in disappointment for Notts.

Notts handed a debut to goalkeeper Russell Hoult less than 24 hours after signing on loan from Stoke City until the end of the season following Kevin Pilkington's fractured fibula sustained in training yesterday in the only change from the 1-0 win at Chester a week ago.

Danny Crow, the hero last weekend, was handed his 'second home debut' - four months after suffering a broken metatarsal in his right foot an hour into his debut for the Club.

Notts began brightly, but Bradford forced the first opportunity after six minutes but Willy Topp's low shot was straight down the throat of Hoult in the Magpies goal. Four minutes later he was forced into another save, this time denying Eddie Johnson from outside the box. Being well placed, he was able to claim the ball, which had some pace on it, very well.

Notts' first chance fell on ten minutes to midfielder Jay Smith, but he drove just wide with his left foot from outside the box as both teams made a bright start to proceedings.

Topp wasted another glorious opening on twenty-five minutes, putting the ball high over the bar when he really should have done better. The Chilean striker was played through on goal by Colbeck, but after advancing into the box and steadying himself he put the ball over.

After the lively opening the game did somewhat fall a little flat towards the half-hour mark, owing to a number of stoppages in the game by Referee Mr Hill.

However, ten minutes before the break Crow was inches away from getting on the end of a fine cross by Ali Gibb from the right as Notts continued to push in search of the opening goal - however neither side could break the deadlock before the interval and the half ended scoreless.

Half-Time: Notts County 0-0 Bradford City

Notts were out of the traps in the second period quickly and Jarvis was inches away from getting on the end of Gibb's excellent ball into the box minutes into the half while an unconvincing punch clear by Loach from Smith's curling effort almost fell to Jarvis in the box, but the Bantams struck lucky and the ball bounced away to safety.

However, Jarvis didn't have to wait too long for his next chance - and when it came his way, he took it. A really good passing move by the Magpies created an opening for Butcher just inside the area, but he was unable to get a shot away with his left boot and the ball fell kindly just inside the box and he curled the ball nearly beyond the dive of Loach and into the far post.

Jarvis' goal was deserved for his tireless running and hard work throughout, putting a real shift in up the front.

However, Notts' lead lasted five minutes as Bradford hit back quickly. Peter Thorne scored a hat-trick against Notts last month and he wasn't to be denied again just after the hour as a ball in behind the Magpies defence found the veteran striker and he took the ball down well and slammed the ball into the back of the net with Hoult given no chance.

In the stands, Ian McParland was tearing his hair out his side had thrown away the lead so quickly and cheaply having worked so hard to get ahead - and just a few minutes later the Bantams completed a quick recovery by taking the lead.

Sub Rhodes got away down the left and teased Notts with a dangerous ball in which the Magpies failed to clear, and Gibb's clearance from inside the box fell to the feet of Colbeck who was able to slot the ball beyond a motionless Hoult in the Magpies goal and send the away fans into raptures.

At that stage of the game, every chance was being taken by either side in a real roller-coaster ten minute spell - and things got worse for Notts fifteen minutes from time as Bradford sub Alex Rhodes burst away to make it 3-1.

Down the left the striker was able to use is pace to sweep past the Notts backline and into the area, and then make no mistake from around six yards out with a calm finish with his left-foot with Hoult left with no chance.

Notts tried to force the issue and get back into the game, but Smith was off target with a right-foot shot from outside the penalty area ten minutes from time - but at the other end had it not been for Hoult it could have been more as he denied Daley and then Thorne within a matter of minutes.

Sub Weir-Daley was denied by the legs of Loach from inside the box five minutes from time as Notts' hopes of getting something from the game evaporated.

A disappointed defeat for the Magpies, especially after working so hard to get ahead - only for the Bantams to take advantage of some poor defending to secure the win.

With some big games coming up in recent weeks - including Macclesfield next weekend - Notts must pick themselves up quickly from this disappointment.

Full Time: Notts County 1-3 Bradford City

Notts County: Hoult, Canoville, (Silk 89) Mayo, Edwards, Tann (C), Gibb (MacKenzie 79), Weston (Weir-Daley 84), Butcher, Smith, Jarvis, Crow.
Subs Not Used: McCann, Weir-Daley, Lee.
Booked: None.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: Jarvis (58).

Bradford City: Loach, Heckingbottom, Wetherall (C), Daley (Nix 90), Thorne, Moncur, Johnson, Colbeck, Topp (Rhodes 60), Bullock, Starosta.
Subs Not Used: Williams, Conlon, Penford.
Booked: Moncur.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: Thorne (63), Colbeck (69), Rhodes (76).

Match Referee: Mr K D Hill

Attendance: 4,717 (941 Bradford City Fans)

nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Ryan Jarvis