BRADFORD Town will begin their new year fixtures in Toolstation League Premier Division at the top of the table despite signing off 2019 with a rare disappointment.

The Bobcats suffered just a second loss from 17 league fixtures in their final game of the year last Saturday when going down 3-1 away at Keynsham Town.

There was better news for Wayne Thorne’s side prior to that defeat, though, as they beat Wiltshire rivals Westbury United 2-1 at home on Boxing Day.

The three points collected post Christmas has kept Bradford at the top of the table heading into their first game of 2020 at home to Odd Down this Saturday.

The Bobcats have won 14 games and 43 points in the league this term and hold a three-point lead over Plymouth Parkway at the summit, although the Devon outfit do have a game in hand.

Bradford’s defeat at Keynsham last weekend was all the more surprising as they actually took the lead on the day as Lewis Powell broke the deadlock midway through the first half.

It did not take long for Keynsham to restore parity, though, as Matthew Brown levelled the scores on the half-hour mark.

Parity remained at the break before the home side took the lead 10 minutes after the restart through Craig Wilson.

Bradford then had the chance to draw back level when they were awarded a penalty but Tyson Pollard saw his effort saved.

And the Bobcats’ fate was sealed in stoppage time at the end of the game as Wilson struck his second goal of the game to seal Keynsham’s victory.

Bradford had fared better on Boxing Day as they took the Wiltshire bragging rights against Westbury at Trowbridge Road courtesy of Jamie Lyons’ late winner.

Charlie Maddison gave the home side the lead at the break, and although Jason Henley restored parity for United in the second half from the penalty spot, Lyons’ intervention snatched all three points for Bradford.

Westbury also went down by a 2-1 scoreline in their final game of the year last Saturday as they hosted the other of the divisions two chief protagonists in the title race, Plymouth.

Mikey Williams put Parkway ahead in the first half at Meadow Lane but Joe Stradling levelled things up after the restart.

Westbury could not hold on for a point, though, and Michael Landricombe struck a winner for Plymouth.

United sit 13th in the table and start the new year with a trip to Wellington.