F.A Cup First Round
FC Halifax Town 1 (Maynard 3)
Bradford City 2 (Stead 50, Morais 53)
Kick Off: 12noon
at the Shay Stadium
Attendance: 8,042 (3,429 visitors)
Half-time substitute Billy Clarke inspired a second half fightback from Phil Parkinson's Bantams to help City overcome a stern challenge from local neighbours FC Halifax Town and secure their passage into the F.A Cup second round.
With Halifax playing their part in a proper F.A Cup affair, City were behind at the interval following Lois Maynard's third minute opener for the Vanarama Conference side.
Maynard was on hand to convert from close range when Paul Marshall's near post corner dropped into his path.
It could have been even worse for the Bantams if not for a fine reaction save by Ben Williams from a header from former Bradford defender Steve Williams around ten minutes from the break.
The Bantams were needing a boost at the break, and Parkinson decided to introduce Clarke before the beginning of the second period.
The Irishman was quickly involved in the action following his introduction for Andy Halliday, playing strike partner Jon Stead in on goal only five minutes into the half to allow the forward to side-step Matt Glennon and fire into an empty net to draw City level.
Just three minutes later, Clarke was at the heart of the action again, this time feeding Filipe Morais into a pocket of space deep inside Halifax's penalty. The Portuguese attacker didn't waste the opportunity as he drove the ball home into the far bottom corner with a fine angled finish.
Clarke could have made the tie safe for Parkinson's men ten minutes from the end when he was played in with a sight of goal by Mark Yeates but the striker's effort was saved by the diving frame of Glennon.
Halifax threw men forward in late attempt to rescue a reply but the Bantams, aided by an important block from captain Stephen Darby to deny Scott Boden deep in injury time, stood up to the physical challenge to book their place in the hat for Monday's draw.
FT: FC Halifax Town 1 Bradford City 2
90+5min: Smith's corner towards the far post is headed for goal by Mark Roberts but Morais is on hand by the post to kick the ball away. City still have to work hard to scramble the ball clear from their box, which they eventually do after a couple of blocks.
90+4min: Jackson's cross into the area finds Boden lurking but his strike for goal is vitally blocked by Darby. Maynard fires goalwards with an effort from outside the box on the rebound but it is deflected wide for a corner.
90+2min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Matthew Dolan for Knott.
90+1min: Meredith fires over from an angle just inside the box after being found by Morais on a quick City attack forward.
90min: There will be four minutes of time added on.
86min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Rory McArdle for Yeates.
84min: Pearson fires for goal from just outside the box but the rising effort flies well over the bar.
82min: After being found deep inside the area, Stead volleys first time but his effort flies over the bar.
82min: YELLOW CARD - Jackson is booked a for late tackle on Clarke just inside Halifax's half of the pitch.
80min: Yeates plays Clarke into clear shooting space in behind Halifax's defence. Clarke drives into the area and towards Glennon's goal but the striker's low side-footed effort is blocked by the diving frame of the goalkeeper.
79min: YELLOW CARD - Smith is booked for catching Knott late just inside Halifax's half of the pitch.
78min: Yeates cuts inside from a wide position before firing in a low strike from inside the area which is pushed away by Glennon.
76min: Maynard fires a loose ball for goal from around 25 yards out but his snap shot rolls comfortably wide of Williams' goal.
75min: Knott's cross into the area is headed over by Clarke around fourteen yards out.
74min: SUB - FC Halifax bring on Jamie Jackson for Marshall.
71min: City's bench go up as one to appeal for a penalty after Clarke appears to be barged into from behind by Kevin Roberts as he goes to contest a Darby cross deep inside the box. Nothing is given, however, and play continues.
69min: From the resulting wide free-kick delivery by Smith, City struggle to clear their lines and they have to make at least a couple of blocks from shots and vital headers to repel balls into their box before the danger finally passes.
68min: YELLOW CARD: Despite seemingly winning the ball, Andrew Davies is booked for a tackle on Peniket out by City's right flank around 25 yards from their box.
64min: Marshall tries his luck from outside the box but his curling effort bounces comfortably wide of Williams' far post.
54min: SUB - FC Halifax bring on Adam Smith for Williams.
53min: YELLOW CARD - Morais is booked for taking off his shirt celebrating his goal.
53min: GOAL!!!!!!!!!! FC Halifax Town 1 Bradford City 2 - Morais scores to fire the Bantams in the lead. Clarke is again on hand with the assist as the substitute fees the ball in the path of the marauding Morais, who fires a fabulous angled drive into the far corner from around twelve yards out.
50min: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!! FC Halifax Town 1 Bradford City 1 - Stead has City level! Nice play from Morais and Clarke sees Stead in on goal with only Glennon to beat. The striker shows great calmness to dance around the Halifax 'keeper before slotting into the empty net.
49min: Morais' cross into the area is headed out by Halifax, Darby is first to the loose ball around 25 yards but his first time strike sails comfortably wide of Glennon's goal.
48min: Darby's pass into the area finds Clarke in space and the striker forces a decent save from Glennon as he fires towards the top corner of the goal by the keeper's near post.
46min: The Bantams restart the tie.
HT SUB: The Bantams bring on Billy Clarke for Halliday ahead of the restart.
HT: FC Halifax Town 1 Bradford City 0
45min: There will be one minute of time added on at the end of the first half.
45min: YELLOW CARD - Williams is booked for bringing down Knott as the City midfielder looked to burst free down Halifax's left flank.
44min: Halliday's deflected cross loops up into the path of Stead but the striker's volley for goal on the turn sails well wide of its intended target.
41min: Peniket's cross into the box is headed out by Sheehan into the path of the lurking Kevin Roberts inside City's box but the right wing back's first time effort is slashed well wide of goal.
40min: Peniket's low cross into the area finds his strike partner Boden in a decent position inside the area but the striker, who is free in space, fires over the box with a shot on the turn.
39min: After being picked out by Yeates, Halliday turns away from Kevin Roberts inside the area but his low strike is weak and Glennon is comfortably able to save by his near post.
38min: Stead's header from around ten yards out loops over the bar following Stephen Darby's cross into the box.
36min: Boden strikes from outside the box and the fierce drive curls narrowly wide of Williams' goal.
34min: Ben Williams makes a vital save to deny Halifax defender Steve Williams! Marshall's cross into the area after his initial corner delivery is cleared finds the head of Williams but the centre half's header from close range is pushed away by a fine reaction from his namesake Ben.
28min: Morais goes for goal from just outside the corner of Halifax's penalty area but rising drive whistles narrowly wide of Glennon's near post.
27min: Alan Sheehan's lofted ball over the top beats the head of Mark Roberts to leave Jon Stead in with a sight goal. As the striker looks to latch onto the pass though, the ball hits his heels and the chance is gone.
23min: Morais' hanging cross from the byline looks to be possibly dropping in Glennon's far corner before Ainge flicks it away with his head from just under his own crossbar. The danger isn't over for Halifax, however, as Yeates strikes for goal over the far side of the box and his strike is blocked behind by Kevin Roberts for a corner.
15min: Filipe Morais drills the ball across the six yard box from a wide position, Glennon gets a hand on the low cross but it rolls out free in the box and Matty Pearson has to be on hand to clear kick to deny Billy Knott a simple tap-in from close range.
12min: Andy Halliday has an effort from distance and the strikes sails comfortably over Matt Glennon's bar.
8min: With City struggling to clear their lines just outside the box, Maynard latches onto the ball and tries his luck with a half-volley but the effort lacks power and is straight at Williams.
3min FC Halifax Town kick off.0min:
: Paul Marshall’s corner kick eventually drops into the path of Simon Ainge inside the area and the defender sees his strike deflected narrowly wide of City's goal.
2min
Lois Maynard fires Halifax into an early lead. Marshall’s near post corner pops up into the path of an unmarked Maynard, who fires past a helpless Ben Williams from close range. – GOAL – FC Halifax Town 1 Bradford City 0:
FC HALIFAX TOWN LINE UP
Glennon, Ainge, M Roberts, Williams, K Roberts, Pearson, Maynard, Marshall, McManus, Peniket, Boden
Subs: Senior, Bolton, Smith, Jackson, Dyer, Wilson, Schofield
FC Halifax Town cautions:
Williams (45), Smith (79), Jackson (82)
FC Halifax Town changes:
Smith for Williams (54), Jackson for Marshall (74)
BRADFORD CITY LINE UP
Williams, Darby, Davies, Sheehan, Meredith, Morais, Kennedy, Halliday, Yeates, Knott, Stead
Subs: Urwin, Dolan, Clarke, Routis, McBurnie, McArdle, Webb-Foster
Bradford City cautions:
Morais (53), Davies (68)
Bradford City changes:
Clarke for Halliday (46), McArdle for Yeates (86), Dolan for Knott (90+2)
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: A D,Urso
Assistant Referee: W Smallwood
Assistant Referee: P Wright
Fourth Official: D Handley