Two early Peter Thorne goals took all the points back to Bradford as Macclesfield looked out of ideas going forward and slumped to their second consecutive league defeat.

Former Stoke and Cardiff hitman Thorne headed the Bantams ahead on ten minutes and doubled their lead just four minutes later with Bradford cruising to a deserved victory.

Lee Bell replaced the suspended Terry Dunfield in the centre for the Silkmen and Bradford boss Stuart McCall chose summer signing Michael Boulding to partner Thorne ahead of Barry Conlon.

Boulding, who scored 27 league goals last term for relegated Mansfield, saw his first effort of the afternoon curl over from 20 yards.

The home defence looked hesitant from the off with Paul Morgan and Jonathon Brain leaving a cross for each other and conceding an unnecessary corner.The set piece came to nothing but the Bantams were soon ahead when Ben Colbeck's cross from the right was met at the far post by an unmarked Thorne to send a looping header back across goal and into the far corner.

Gareth Evans put a tame effort into the arms of his namesake Rhys Evans in the away goal before moments later Bradford went two up.

Gareth Evans - Determined up front, but rarely threatened goal

Another ball into the box was dealt with poorly and Sean Hessey could only prod a clearance into Thorne's path and the frontman sent a low drive into the corner with Brain rooted to the spot.

Omar Daley sent an ambitious volley over the bar on 18 minutes and at the other end Danny Thomas found Evans at the near box but after reaching the ball before his marker his first time effort flashed wide.

As the half wore on Macc managed to gain a little more possession without really threatening goal as Bradford were happy to knock the ball around in midfield.

Chances were at a premium towards the end of the period, with Bell's free kick which flew high and wide the only real effort from the home side.

Izak Reid replaced Shaun Brisley at the break as Keith Alexander went for more speed out wide and the full back impressed with some quick raids down the right flank.

The backline still looked shaky at times and another Morgan and Brain mix-up provided the visitors with another corner which could have been avoided.

Thorne missed a great chance for his hat-trick on 56 minutes, glancing a diving header wide from Paul Heckingbottom's long free kick and then later shooting straight at Brain when played in by Colbeck.

Francis Green came on for Danny Thomas and with Macc pushing forward to get back in the game the visitors almost sealed it when Boulding's shot on the turn came off the inside of the post and bounced wide the other side of goal.

An Evans half volley went straight to the keeper and the Silkmen saw a strong penalty claim waved away by the referee when Martin Gritton appeared to be hauled to the ground by Matt Clarke.

Alexander made his final throw of the dice with the introduction of Simon Yeo for Hessey and although Macc saw more of the ball, Bradford always looked comfortable with their lead.

Ahmed Deen's free kick curled just over the bar from 25 yards and frustration began to kick in with all of the forwards spurning good opportunites by shooting from long range when others were better positioned.

Gritton skewed an effort out for a throw and a vicious Green shot was tipped over by Evans as time ticked away.

The visitors hit the woodwork for the second time with only a couple of minutes to go when Daley's thunderbolt smacked against the top of the post and fell to safety.

Three minutes of injury time passed without a chance at either end so the Silkmen will travel to Accrington next week still in search of their first league goals and points of the season.

Andy Brinkhurst