Morecambe boss Derek Adams gained sweet revenge over his former club Bradford as his youngsters enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 victory at the Mazuma Stadium.
Adams, who was sacked by the Bantams after less than a season in charge in February 2022 before returning for a second spell with the Shrimps, had plenty to smile about.
Michael Mellon scored twice and JJ McKiernan added another in a one-sided clash.
“I was delighted with the way we managed the game,” he said.
“They are one of the favourites to go up this year, as they have been for so many years, but they couldn’t deal with us and the manner of the victory was fantastic.
“I’m delighted for the players because they gave everything. Bradford changed their formation but no matter how they lined up they never caused us problems because we were strong in and out of possession and were tactically very good.
“We have a lot of young players but they have worked really hard and today typified that.
“There’s not too many times you get a victory like we did today. We scored three and could have had four or five.”
Bantams boss Mark Hughes said he had no complaints about the result.
He said: “We never looked like we were going to get any foothold in the game and I’m really surprised because I didn’t see it coming.
“We have done pretty well so far this season but today we didn’t really show any threat and they didn’t really have to work hard for their goals.
“I think 3-0 was the correct scoreline because we were flat and just didn’t do the basics correctly and I’ll have to look closely on what we did and more importantly what we didn’t do.”
Mellon was Morecambe’s star man with two goals.
The on-loan Burnley youngster opened the scoring with a 22nd-minute free-kick that beat the wall and flew into Harry Lewis’s bottom left-hand corner.
The visitors tried to ramp up the pace at the start of the second half with Jacob Bedeau forced into a fine block to deny Tyler Smith, before Morecambe midfielder Eli KIng headed a Richie Smallwood corner inches wide of his own goal.
After surviving the pressure the home side doubled their lead with a well worked second when Mellon turned provider to play in JJ McKiernan who drilled a low shot past Lewis from the edge of the area.
The Shrimps sealed the scoring with their first penalty since March 2022 after Kevin McDonald brought down Jake Taylor and Mellon stepped up to send Lewis the wrong way from the spot to seal a fine win.
International record goalscorer Sinclair to retire after NWSL season
Christine Sinclair, the all-time record goalscorer in international football, will retire at the end of the National Women’s Soccer League in November.
Sinclair, 41, has 190 goals in 331 appearances for Canada, making her the top scorer across both men's and women's football.
She has played for the NWSL's Portland Thorns since 2013, helping them to win the inaugural title that year. She added further league crowns to her collection in 2017 and 2022.
The Canadian great has had similar success with her national team, winning a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She is also one of three players to score at five World Cups, alongside Brazil's Marta and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sinclair retired from international football in December 2023, and will now call time on her club career.
"Portland, thank you will never be enough. Soccer has been my passion since I was four years old and it has taken me on a journey I could never have imagined," Sinclair wrote on Instagram.
"As I finish out this last ride, I want to say what a privilege it has been to represent this unique, beautiful, and passionate city that I will always call home."
Dorival calls for patience over Neymar's Brazil return
Brazil head coach Dorival Junior called for Neymar to be given as much time as he needs to make a full recovery from a knee injury before returning to the national side.
Neymar ruptured his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while on international duty last October in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay, missing the Copa America as a result.
The 32-year-old underwent surgery and returned to training with Al-Hilal in July, but he is yet to make his comeback, with head coach Jorge Jesus saying this week the Brazilian was not ready.
Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances and is 15 caps shy of breaking Cafu's record for the most outings for the Selecao.
But the forward is again missing from the Brazil squad for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru next month, with Dorival saying he will wait until the right moment to welcome Neymar back into the fold.
"We'll wait, we'll be patient, it doesn't matter if he can't come back in October, November or even February," Dorival said.
"He needs to be confident, he needs to play and above all he needs to be completely healed from this injury.
"We are starting to realise how important he is.
"If he returns in the coming years, we will have one of the greatest players in world football at a remarkable moment in his career and in our national team."
Dorival recalled Barcelona winger Raphinha and Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli for their upcoming fixtures next month.
Real Madrid trio Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Endrick were the other attacking options included for the five-time world champions.
Brazil have 10 points from eight qualifiers after losing four of their last five matches, leaving them fifth and just one point above Paraguay, who occupy the play-off spot.
Guardiola declares "war" on Arsenal in escalating rivalry
Pep Guardiola said Manchester City had been "provoked" into a "war" with Arsenal after the two sides drew 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium in a drama-filled clash.
City players John Stones and Kyle Walker suggested the Gunners used the "dark arts" as they sought to defend a 2-1 lead in the second half with 10 men.
Mikel Arteta's men had just one shot and 12.4% possession following the break, after Leandro Trossard had been sent off just before half-time.
While Stones salvaged a point with a late equaliser, Arsenal’s defensive approach led Guardiola to call into question what had previously been a cordial relationship with former protegee Arteta.
"Gabriel [Magalhaes] said it perfectly in the press after the match, so this is a war. We have to provoke the opponent, to push them, and at the end, what can you do? You provoke me, OK, I'm there," the City boss told the media.
"You want a war? Now we war."
Last Sunday's result means City have failed to beat Arsenal in their last four meetings in all competitions.
Arsenal had overturned a 1-0 deficit in the first half after an early Erling Haaland goal to lead 2-1 through Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel.
When asked about accusations of the "dark arts", Arteta reflected the claims back on his opponents in reference to the time he spent at City as Guardiola's assistant.
"I was there for four years. I have all the information, so I know, believe me," the Spaniard jibed.
The City boss responded: "Next time Mikel has to be more clear about exactly what he means.
"He said he was here four years and knows exactly what happened here. That can be related to the process now with 115 charges, maybe he knows information about that? Or maybe he had something like, I don't know?
"Hopefully, this question has been asked, and he can answer exactly what he means."
Arteta is still hugely respectful of his former mentor.
"I love him, I respect him, and I admire him. I admire his team and everything that he does," added Arteta.
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