An end-to-end fixture came to an end with the Bantams out-scoring Town 4-3.
Bradford: Richard O’Donnell, Anthony O’Connor, Eoin Doyle (George Miller, 81), Jack Payne (Paudie O’Connor, 90), Hope Akpan, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Connor Wood, Calum Woods (Adam Chicksen, 72), Paul Caddis, Lewis O’Brian, David Ball.
Subs: Ben Wilson, Adam Chicksen, Paudi O’Connor, George Miller, Jermaine Anderson, Danny Devine, Luca Colville.
Town: Steve Arnold, Ryan Haynes (Shaun Whalley, 75), Mat Sadler (Sam Smith, 57), Omar Beckles, Greg Docherty, Fejiri Okenabirhie, James Bolton, Luke Waterfall, Josh Laurent (Aaron Amadi-Holloway, 45), Ollie Norburn, Anthony Grant.
Subs: Reice Charles-Cook, Shaun Whalley, Romain Vincelot, Sam Smith, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Ryan Sears, James Rowland.
Referee: Scott Oldham
Assistants: Kevin Mulraine and David Avent
Fourth official: Mark Dwyer
Attendance: 14, 906
An end-to-end fixture came to an end with Bradford City taking all three points at home.
Fejiri Okenabirhie’s three goals weren’t enough to see Town outscore the Bantams as the home side snatched a late winner.
Team News: Sam Ricketts made no chances to this evenings line up as Town went in search of three points on the road against Bradford City.
First Half:
A cold evenings game in Bradford opened up with both teams looking to create chances and burst forward at any given chance, which created a free-flowing first 10 minutes for Town and the hosts.
Town would have been disappointed in the 19th minute as the home side took the lead. James Bolton could have dealt with a lofted pass over the top but the defender missed his swing at the ball. And Jack Payne pounced on the chance. The forward neatly finished into Steve Arnold’s net.
The home side were having a patch of good fortune shortly after their goal and came close to doubling the lead. A good break of play found David Ball on the edge of the box but Arnold did well to get two strong hands on the long-range shot.
Town didn’t let the home sides goal put a dampener on their motivation and managed pull a goal back just before the half-an-hour mark. Greg Docherty slipped in a neat pass for Fejiri Okenabirhie and the forward squeezed the ball past Richard O’Donnell to level the score.
Against the run of play the home side managed to notch another goal. As the ball fumbled around the edge of the box, Lewis O’Brian managed to swipe at the ball and his left-footed effort curled into the back of the net with just under 10 minutes to go.
David Ball was given a yellow card just a minute before half-time for brining down Josh Laurent.
The half came to an end with the home side going into the dressing room with a 2-1 lead over Town. An end-to-end half created a number of chances but fell the way of the hosts.
Second Half:
The hosts came out for the second-half and looked to continue their momentum and were breaking well on the counter-attack. Despite sustained pressure, the Town back line did well to push away most of the danger.
Confusion between Ollie Norburn and Omar Beckles allowed the home side to pressure Town’s goal on the 60-minute mark, as Town were unable to clear their lines. After a number of well blocked shots, Town’s fortune ran out and Eoin Doyle smashed home the Bantams third from a tight angle.
The only thing denying the Bantams another goal in the 65th minute was a great point-blank safe from Arnold. David Ball got on the end of a driven cross but was unable to beat Town’s keeper from a few yards out.
A great free kick by Okenabirhie pulled Town right back into the game with 15 minutes to go. The forward struck the ball with great power from 25-yards out and saw the ball rocket into the top right-hand corner of the goal – giving O’Donnell no chance.
Town were pushing and pushing to find more chances in the final third but the home side were battling hard to deny Town anything. Even with a number of subs, Town were finding it hard to break down the Bantams.
Omar Beckles was given a yellow card towards the end of the game for pulling back a Bradford frontman.
Town were awarded a penalty right in the depths of injury time as the Bantams tripped down Shaun Whalley just inside the box. Okenabirhie stepped up and slotted the ball into the goal – levelling the score right at the death.
David Ball secured a late goal to earn the home side all three points. The forward managed to cut in from the right side and curl an effort into the corner of the goal, which put the result beyond doubt.
The game came to an end the Bantams taking all three points after a late winner.