Thorne's first goal came after 34 minutes when he scored from close range after the visitors' defence had failed to clear Paul Evans's corner.

The striker put Bradford two up after 58 minutes with a first-time shot from another Evans corner.

And Thorne completed his hat-trick in the last minute with a first-time shot from Joe Colbeck's cross.

Bradford: Ricketts, Williams, Wetherall, Clarke, Heckingbottom, Colbeck, Bullock, Evans, Daley (Rhodes 85), Conlon, Thorne.
Subs Not Used: Saynor, Ainge, Nix, Topp.

Booked: Clarke.

Goals: Thorne 34, 58, 90.

Notts County: Pilkington, Canoville, Tann, Pearce, Hunt, Gibb, Strachan, Butcher, Bastians, Sam (Weir-Daley 64), Dudfield.
Subs Not Used: Sandercombe, Parkinson, MacKenzie, McCann.

Att: 13,494

Ref: Clive Oliver (Northumberland).