Monday 1 January 2018
Sky Bet League One
Fleetwood Town 1 (Sowerby 21)
Bradford City 2 (Gilliead 56, McCartan 63)
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at Highbury Stadium
Attendance: 3,089
Stuart McCall's battling Bantams came from behind to secure a hard-fought victory at Fleetwood Town and kick off 2018 in the best possible way.
McCall's side were trailing at the break thanks to Jack Sowerby's opener for Fleetwood midway through the first half, but goals after the break from Alex Gilliead and Shay McCartan helped turn the game around for the Bantams.
The victory for City - coming at the same ground in which they secured a spot in the play-off final last season - is the Bantams' second in just three days at the end of their festive period of fixtures.
After a strong start to the game, Fleewood took the lead via a well-taken strike from inside the box from Sowerby.
In wet and windy conditions, the Bantams showed real steel and determination to bounce back after the restart, however, and force their way back into the game.
City's leveller came ten minutes after the interval when Gilliead grabbed his first league goal of the season with a low drive from outside the box.
McCall's side then completed the comeback just past the hour mark when McCartan swooped for his second goal in as many matches.
Tony McMahon's flighted corner delivery was headed down into the mix by Charlie Wyke and McCartan on hand to find the corner with a controlled finish on the half-volley.
As you would expect as the home side, Fleetwood looked to respond thereafter but City limited the hosts to precious little chances of note as they made it across the finishing line.
FT: Fleetwood Town 1 Bradford City 2
90+1min: YELLOW CARD - Neal is booked for bringing down Wyke over on City's right wing as he sprinted out of his box to tackle the City striker.
90min: There will be four minutes of time added on at the end of the match.
83min: Burns' shot deflects to McAleny at the other side of the box but the Fleetwood attacker fires wide of the post with a rising drive.
76min: YELLOW CARD - Fleetwood are awarded a free-kick inside City's half but Amari'i Bell is then booked for following through on Romain Vincelot.
74min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Tom Field for McCartan.
69min: SUBS - Fleetwood bring on Conor McAleny and Wes Burns for Hunter and Hiwula.
63min: YELLOW CARD - McCartan is booked for celebrating his goal by the away fans behind the goal.
63min: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fleetwood Town 1 Bradford CIty 2 - McCartan gives City the lead! Tony McMahon's hanging corner is headed down by Wyke and McCartan finds the corner with a half-volley strike on the turn.
61min: Taylor's dipping drive from distance lands on the roof of the net.
60min: YELLOW CARD - Hunter is booked for a late challenge on Hendrie as the City defender cleared up field.
56min: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!! Fleetwood Town 1 Bradford City 1 - Alex Gilliead fires City level! The Bantams winger takes aim with a low drive from outside the area and the shot flashes past Neal's dive and into the corner by his near post!
55min: Ashley Hunter's teasing delivery into the box narrowly misses a diving Devante Cole in the middle and out for a corner via a touch off a City defender.
49min: Wyke battles for possession of the ball, holding off Cian Bolger in the process, before teeing up McCartan for a shot just inside the box. McCartan hits the ball first time but the effort is straight at Neal.
46min: Fleetwood restart the match.
HT: Fleetwood Town 1 Bradford City 0
45+1min: Taylor tries his luck from outside the area but his shot is dragged well wide.
45min: There will be one minute of time added on at the end of the first half.
38min: McCartan runs at Fleetwood's defence with purpose but his eventual shot from just outside the box is sliced wide.
34min: Paul Taylor's low cross from the byline is met by Charlie Wyke but his flick for goal bounces comfortably wide of Neal's near post.
30min: Nicky Law drills the ball low and hard across the six yard box but no-one is there for City in the middle and the centre rolls out for a goal-kick by the far side.
25min: Dieng's curling strike from outside the area is held by Chris Neal.
21min: GOAL - Fleetwood Town 1 Bradford City 0 - Fleetwood take the lead when Sowerby slots home from inside the box after a driving run from deep from Hiwula.
12min: Dempsey turns away from Timothee Dieng but his shot for goal from outside the box is held by Sattelmaier.
6min: The ball breaks free into Hiwula's path inside the area but his curling effort sails comfortably wide of Sattelmaier's far post.
3min:Jack Sowerby curls over with a strike from outside the box.
1min: Jordy Hiwula plays Kyle Dempsey behind City's defences but Rouven Sattelmaier out quickly to make an important block inside the box. Good early chance for Fleetwood there.
0min:The Bantams kick off the match.
FLEETWOOD TOWN LINE UP:
Neal, Coyle, Eastham, Bolger, Bell, Sowerby, Dempsey, Glendon, Hunter, Cole, Hiwula
Subs: Cairns, Pond, Burns, McAleny, Maguire, Rodgers, Schwabl
Fleetwood Town substitutions:
McAleny for Hunter (69), Burns for Hiwula (69)
Fleetwood Town cautions:
Hunter (60), Bell (76), Neal (90+1)
BRADFORD CITY LINE UP:
Sattelmaier, McMahon, Knight-Percival, Vincelot, Hendrie, Gilliead, Law, Dieng, Taylor, McCartan, Wyke
Subs: Raeder, Thompson, Field, Hanson, Devine, Gibson, Patrick
Bradford City substitutions:
Field for McCartan (74)
Bradford City cautions:
McCartan (63)
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: A Haines
Assistant Referee: M Denton
Assistant Referee: C Isherwood
Fourth Official: M Cunliffe