BRADFORD CITY AFC

A week on from their drawn fixture at Millwall, City once again more than held their own at the home of a side with pre-season hopes of promotion.

Hiwula's goal against the Gills came just before the half hour mark at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium and acted as a leveller for City after Cody McDonald had given the hosts the lead in the twelfth minute.

McDonald's opener - a smart finish into the top corner from inside the box - came during a bright start for Gillingham but McCall's men slowly began to impose themselves more and more as the game worn on.

The Bantams' equaliser came via a corner, with Hiwula in the right spot to head home a Nicky Law delivery past a rooted Gillingham 'keeper Jonathan Bond and into the far corner.

City dominated the rest of the half but were unable to add to Hiwula's header before the interval.

Josh Cullen fired narrowly wide for City from just outside the area after the break but Gillingham had a big chance of their own in the second period when Ryan Jackson's long throw into the box landed at the feet of Max Ehmer.

Turning towards goal, Ehmer looked set to smash home from close range but Darby somehow got something on the ball to deflect it up and behind for a corner.

The introductions of fit-again James Hanson and recent loan signing Marc McNulty were two of the three changes made by McCall later in the half, Filipe Morais being the other one.

The duo nearly combined to great effect but Hanson saw his shot blocked by Ehmer inside the area after McNulty had robbed Deji Oshilaja and teed up his strike-partner with a low cross.

McNulty was involved again in injury time when he latched onto Timothee Dieng's booming header forward to find himself through on goal.

As McNulty looked set to race clear into the box though, the Scottish striker was bundled over by last-man Jackson just outside the area, with the Gillingham defender receiving his second caution and his marching orders as a result.

90+5min: SUB - Gillingham bring on Josh Pask for McDonald.

90+4min: Law curls the resulting free-kick over the bar.

90+3min: YELLOW CARD = RED CARD: Jackson is dismissed after receiving his second caution of the game for dragging down McNulty as he bore down on goal. Latching on Dieng's big header forward, McNulty looks set for a clear sight of Bond's goal but he is barged over by Jackson just outside the box.

90min: There will be four minutes of time added on at the end of the match.

90min: Morais lofts the ball inviting into the box from just outside the area. Hanson looks to attack the ball but Bond gets a vital touch on the delivery to vitally knock it away.

87min: SUB - Gillingham bring on Elliott List for Emmanuel-Thomas.

84min: McNulty robs Oshilaja of the ball and runs into the box from a wide position. McNulty cuts the ball back to Hanson but his shot is blocked by Ehmer.

77min: SUB - The Bantams bring on James Hanson for Billy Clarke.

75min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Filipe Morais for Marshall.

73min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Marc McNulty for Hiwula.

71min: Great defending from Darby denies Ehmer! Jackson's long throw-in into the area drops at the feet of Ehmer, who turns for goal looking to get a shot away. The defender looks certain to score as he pulls the trigger from only yards out and right in front of goal but Darby does just enough to get in the way and deflect the shot up and behind for a corner.

68min: Emmanuel-Thomas' knock down from Jackson's ball into the box from deep finds Osadebe but the midfielder's deflected shot lacks power and Doyle is easily able to gather up.

67min: McDonald's knock-down from a big kick forward from Bond is met by Byrne but the midfielder's first time effort from just outside the area rolls wide of Doyle's far post.

66min: Emmanuel-Thomas receives the ball in space inside City's half via a pass from Osadebe. Emmanuel-Thomas moves forward into shooting range but his eventual effort lacks the power and accuracy to trouble Doyle.

59min: Billy Clarke's headed flick on from a Doyle goal-kick is latched onto by Marshall after he gets the better of Konchesky. The winger fires for goal but his low drive inside the box is held down to his right by Bond.

57min: SUB - Gillingham bring on Scott Wagstaff for Donnelly.

55min: Latching onto a loose ball, Cullen holds off Emmanuel-Thomas as he drives towards the edge of the area and fires in a strike that goes a whisker wide of the far post.

53min: YELLOW CARD - Meredith is booked seemingly for dissent following the award of a throw-in to Gillingham.

52min: Neat build-up play from City eventually ends with Cullen teeing up Dieng for a shot from outside the box that is slashes harmlessly wide of goal.

47min: Cullen and Emmanuel-Thomas are down receiving treatment for knocks to the head suffered in separate incidents seconds apart. Following a brief break in play of a minute or so, both are able to continue.

46min: Gillingham restart the match.

45min: There will be one minute of time added on at the end of the first half.

45min: The resulting free-kick is worked short to Marshall but his shot while under pressure from Byrne flies a good distance over Bond's bar.

44min: YELLOW CARD - Gillingham pick up a second booking for the afternoon when Oshilaja is cautioned for blocking off Marshall as the winger looked to turn on the ball just outside the area. 

42min: Meredith puts in a brilliant delivery from the left flank that narrowly misses the diving frame of Hiwula in the middle as the ball flashes across Gillingham's six yard box.

38min: YELLOW CARD - Jackson is booked for a late tackle on Hiwula by the dug-outs just inside Gillingham territory.

34min: Darby and Marshall link up brilliantly down City's right flank, with the latter eventually crossing dangerously into the middle from the byline. The ball looks inviting but it is unfortunately just behind Hiwula and Gillingham can clear.

33min: Dieng plays Josh Cullen into space just inside Gillingham's half of the pitch. With open grass in front of him, Cullen moves further and further forward in possession. Cullen has time and options available to him as he gets to just outside the box; the midfielder eventually electing to strike low with a shot that is held to his right by Bond.

28min: City lead a dangerous counter-attack when Billy Clarke surges into space inside Gillingham's half of the pitch. The forward looks to play Jordy Hiwula potentially through on goal but he is dispossessed by a well-timed tackle from Konchesky as he looks to make the pass.

26min: Under pressure from his marker James Meredith, Donnelly heads comfortably over from Byrne's out-swinging corner delivery.

25min: Dieng's pass finds Billy Clarke just outside the box, The Irish attacker turns away from Max Ehmer before firing in a low drive that goes wide of Bond's goal.

21min: Mark Byrne takes aim from just outside the box but his mis-timed shot bobbles harmlessly through to Doyle.

19min: Donnelly's header down into the mix from Paul Konchesky's free-kick into the box causes some brief concern for City. Both Oshilaja and McDonald try to get on the ball for a shot on goal but the Bantams eventually clear their lines.

18min: Donnelly's downward header direct from a long Ryan Jackson throw-in into the box bounces comfortably wide of Colin Doyle's near post.

16min: Following a neat passing move from City, Billy Clarke clever pass round the corner nearly plays Stephen Darby in with a sight of goal deep inside the box but Oshilaja gets his body in the way to shepherd the ball back to Bond.

7min: Picking up the ball from Billy Clarke, Mark Marshall surges into the area looking for a shooting opportunity. Marshall turns away from Deji Oshilaja before curing in a left-footed drive that flashes a yard or so wide of Jonathan Bond's far post.

6min: Timothee Dieng is down receiving treatment after taking a whack to his head while challenging for the ball in the air around the halfway line. Dieng is soon up on his feet, however, and able to continue.

0min: The Bantams kick off the match.

GILLINGHAM LINE UP:

Bond, Jackson, Ehmer, Oshilaja, Konchesky Wright, Osadebe, Byrne, Emmanuel-Thomas, Donnelly, McDonald

Subs: Nelson, Wagstaff, Hessenthaler, Knott, Pask, Oldaker, List

Wagstaff for Donnelly (57), List for Emmanuel-Thomas (87), Pask for McDonald (90+5)

Gillingham cautions:

Jackson (38, 90+3), Oshilaja (44)

Jackson (90+3)

BRADFORD CITY LINE UP:

Doyle, Darby, Vincelot, Knight-Percival, Meredith, Law, Dieng, Cullen, Marshall, Hiwula, B Clarke

Subs: Sattelmaier, Hanson, McNulty, Vuckic, Morais, Devine, Kilgallon

McNulty for Hiwula (73), Morais for Marshall (75), Hanson for B Clarke (77)

Bradford City cautions:
Meredith (53)