Town: Steve Phillips, Dean Holden, Graham Coughlan (c), Kelvin Langmead, Dave Hibbert, Nathan Elder (Robinson, 55), Paul Murray, Steve Leslie (Neal, 55), Jake Simpson (Bright, 84), Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Joss Labadie

Subs: Jake Robinson, Kris Bright, Harry Hooman, Andre Gray, Andreas Arestidou, Lewis Neal, Kevin McIntyre

Goal: Hibbert 67

Bradford City: Simon Eastwood, Simon Ramsden, Luke O'Brien, Michael Flynn, Zesh Rehman (c), Lee Bullock, Gareth Evans, Steve Williams, James Hanson, James O'Brien (Bateson, 89), Scott Neilson (Osborne, 89)

Subs: Matthew Clarke, John McLaughlin, Jonathan Bateson, Rory Boulding, Leon Osborne, Luke Sharry

Goals: Evans 15, Flynn 35

Attendance: 5, 525 (535 away)

Referee: S Mathieson

Assistants: D Gratton, A Newell

Fourth Official: T Horton

Martin Wild reports from the Prostar Stadium

There is a home debut for loan signing Steve Phillips who continues in goal with Chris Neal still sidelined. Jake Simpson makes his full debut on the right side of midfield, with Craig Disley another addition to the Prostar casualty list.

Bradford arrive in fine form with three straight wins in all competitions, hoping for a repeat of their last thrilling league outing away - a remarkable 5-4 win at Cheltenham!

Town were close to taking the lead in the first meaningful passage of play. A short corner routine saw Dean Holden flight over an inviting cross, but Nathan Elder failed to connect. With Simon Eastwood in the City goal anticipating the striker to get his header away, he wasn't able to readjust in time and the ball had to be hooked clear from the goaline, with Holden's cross almost finding its way into the net.

Moments later Paul Murray's header landed on top of the netting during a bright and inventive opening period for the hosts. Skipper Graham Coughlan also went close from another flag-kick - one of several in the first ten minutes - but Eastwood was equal to the defender's header.

How Bradford had escaped during that time was a mystery. Dave Hibbert's brilliant overhead kick and Kelvin Langmead's header from the resultant corner could so easily have set Salop on their way.

City had been pegged back totally with almost the entire match so far being played out in their half of the field. Shrews looked hungry and were desperately unlucky not to hold the lead during the early stages. Town had had the benefit of a midweek rest courtesy of their cup bye, as Bradford had to come through a tricky looking JPT tie at Rochdale.

Then, on fifteen minutes Town fell to a sucker punch. During Bradford's first real foray into Shrewsbury territory, Michael Flynn's inviting pull-back was met inside the six yard box by Gareth Evans to give the visitors a lead and send their band of 500 supporters into delirium at the opposite end of the ground.

To say the goal came against the run of play would be the mildest of understatements. The Bantams had been clinging on throughout, but had weathered the storm and nicked the advantage during a rare offensive. It was the first time Town had been behind in a league game at home this season.

Simpson's men were clearly rocked by the goal, with their earlier momentum curtailed, and the game now much more evenly contested. The onus was certainly more on the home side with City quite happy to put their emphasis on defence. Maybe McCall's side had learned their lessons from the nine goal extravaganza at Whaddon Road two weeks ago.

They certainly hadn't lost their route to goal. Flynn had been provider on quarter of an hour, but his impact was even more damaging after 35 minutes. The busy midfielder strode forward and cracked home a belter from fully 30 yards which nestled neatly in the bottom corner of Phillips' net. It was a stunning blow for Town who had been looking to try and go in level, and now found themselves two in arrears.

Half-Time: 0-2

The first yellow card of the afternoon went to Lee Bullock, with the City man halting Joss Labadie in full flow. Steve Leslie's free-kick was charged down and Bradford sprang quickly on the counter, but the move soon fizzled out.

There were loud appeals from the South Stand as Elder went down in the box but Mr. Mathieson wasn't interested, and in fairness there were few complaints from the Town players.

Flynn had already demonstrated his prowess with a fine second goal, but he wasn't tracked on 54 minutes and nearly punished Town again. He put in another long ranger that appeared destined for the top of the goal this time, but Phillips back-pedalled and managed to tip the effort over the bar.

Simmo made a double change after Town had cleared the corner. Leslie and Elder were withdrawn with Lewis Neal and Jake Robinson coming on to replace them.

A lightning burst from Scott Neilson came close to adding a third for the away side. After covering almost fifty yards and with Shane Cansdell-Sherriff the only blue shirt in close proximity, Neilson pulled the trigger and saw his rising drive just clear the angle of bar and post, with Phillips seemingly beaten.

Immediately Shrews responded and should have got themselves back into it. Langmead rose highest to meet Simpson's free-kick midway through the half, and his downward header looked sure to result in a goal. Unfortunately for the centre-back, the ball kicked up off the turf and clattered against the crossbar to let City off the hook.

The substitutions had increased Town's potency as an attacking force and after 67 minutes came a lifeline. Simpson's pacy delivery was met by the head of Hibbert who glanced into the far corner. The number nine just can't stop scoring at the moment with the latest taking his tally to five for the season. He's certainly enjoying his best spell since arriving at the club two summers ago, and his workrate alone was worthy of his reward this afternoon.

The Yorkshire side came back well though and Phillips again had to divert Neilson's header over. Their next effort was slightly more wayward with Flynn's latest attempt on goal finding the car park behind the South Stand!

A win would see Bradford leapfrog the Shrews and just over ten minutes remained for Salop to rescue a point. There was an injury scare with Labadie down for a lengthy period, but the youngster was able to recover before the woodwork once again came to Bradford's rescue. Simpson beat the offside trip and his superb effort smacked against the underside of the goal frame before landing back into the grateful arms of City custodian Eastwood. It was desperately bad luck for Simpson junior and was to be his last involvement in the game as the gaffer introduced Kris Bright as replacement.

Town were well on top and Bradford's lead looked increasingly precarious. They had ridden their luck alright, but Salop had had many opportunities to put this game out of sight. It's goals what count though and the trip back up the M62 would be a happy one - providing the Bantams luck held in the time that remained.

McCall made a dual change with the clock showing 89 minutes, and then the fourth official held up the board to show an extra six minutes - which brought cheers from all sides of the ground except the Bradford one!

The additional time brought a last minute headed chance for Neal which was squandered, and City managed to escape with the points - just!

Full-Time: 1-2

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