BRADFORD CITY AFC

Attendance: 7,180 (2,742 visitors)

The Bantams took the lead of the contest midway through the first half when Nahki Wells converted Garry Thompson’s near post cross from close range. 

Wells' fourteen goal of the season was cancelled out less than three minutes later, however, when Jonson Clarke-Harris rifled home from inside the area.

The draw moves City up to eighth in the league and only two points outside the League 1 Play-Off zone.

In an entertaining first period, both sides went close before Wells' opener. 

The Bermudian striker hit the bar after 16 minutes when he latched onto James Hanson's flick-on from a Garry Thompson throw-in into the area.

Wells beat James Tarkowski to the ball to volley for goal from only a few yards out but his first-time effort crashed against the bar.

Oldham had their own promising opening just four minutes later when the recalled Nathan Doyle was robbed of the ball by home debutant Ellis Plummer on the edge of City's penalty area.

This allowed Clarke-Harris a clear sight of City's goal but Jon McLaughlin managed to stick out a leg and poke the ball off the striker's toes as he tried to round the Bantams shot-stopper.

Although a draw was probably a fair result from the contest, Phil Parkinson's men could have had a penalty on three separate occasions.

The Bantams' first spot-kick shout came just before half time when Tarkowski appeared to clip Kyel Reid as the winger drove into the Oldham box at pace.

Nothing was given, however, before Reid was booked in the second period for supposedly diving despite appearing to be tagged from behind by Sidney Schmeltz just inside the box.

City's third and final appeal for a penalty came eight minutes from the end of normal time when Wells looked to be caught by Jonathan Grounds as the striker picked up a Hanson flick on from a City throw-in and flicked the ball past the Oldham defender.

Again, much to City's frustrations though, nothing was given.

90+2min: SUB – The Bantams bring on Oliver McBurnie for Wells for the young striker's league debut in City colours.
90min: There will be four minutes of time added on at the end of the match.
89min: Reid whistles in a cross from wide that in fact ends up going towards goal and Oxley has to push it away.
84min: Running at Meredith, Petrasso fizzes over a cross-come-shot that whistles a yard or so over McLaughlin's bar.

82min: City have their third penalty shout of the afternoon turned away when Wells is brought down by the out-stretched leg of Jonathan Grounds after the striker had latched onto Hanson's flick on from a Stephen Darby throw-in down the line.
79min: The ball breaks free towards Clarke-Harris inside the area but, from a relatively tight angle, the striker can only send a fierce rising drive wide of McLaughlin’s near post.
78min: SUB – The Bantams bring on Mark Yeates for Thompson.
73min: SUB – Oldham bring on Michael Petrasso for Schmeltz.
71min: Schmeltz has time and space to drive forwards towards City’s penalty area but his eventual low strike for goal rolls a good few yards wide.
65min: A Clarke-Harris cross appears to accidentally catch the upper arm of Matthew Bates. Despite the home fans’ protests though, only a corner is awarded.
64min: SUB – After Plummer's close shave just minutes earlier, Oldham bring on David Mellor for the left back.
63min: SUB – Oldham bring on Adam Rooney for Dayton.
62min: Plummer survives a brief scare when the defender, who is already on a booking, brings down Thompson again. City players make their case but referee Mr Webb gives just the free-kick.
61min: A City free-kick into the area is headed back across goal by McArdle but Hanson’s attempted strike on goal from close range is blocked out before it can get anywhere near Oxley’s goal.
57min: YELLOW CARD – City receive another harsh booking when Reid is booked for supposedly diving in the box despite seemingly being tagged from behind by Schmeltz as he brought the ball down on his chest following a half-cleared City free-kick.
55min:YELLOW CARD – Plummer is booked for bringing down Thompson out on City’s right flank.
53min: Tarkowski connects with Dayton’s corner and the defender’s powerful header whistles a couple of yards wide of City’s goal.
49min: YELLOW CARD – Rory McArdle is seemingly quite harshly booked for barging Clarke-Harris off the ball just inside Oldham’s half.
46min: Oldham restart the game.
HT: Oldham Athletic 1 Bradford City 1
45min: There will be two minutes added on at the end of the first half.
42min: A bit of controversy when Kyel Reid drives into the Oldham box before appearing to fall over as James Tarkowski sticks out a leg towards the winger. At first glance, it appears there could be a shout for a spot-kick but, with the home fans instead calling for a booking for diving, referee Mr Webb gives nothing other than a goal-kick.
26min: YELLOW CARD – Hanson is booked for catching Matteo Lanzoni as the pair tangle in the air for the ball just inside Oldham’s half.
23min: GOAL – Oldham Athletic 1 Bradford City 1 – City’s lead doesn’t last long, however, as Jonson Clarke-Harris rifles in an equaliser for the hosts. James Wesolowski releases the powerful striker into space inside the area and Clarke-Harris smashes in a fierce rising drive from around twelve yards out that whistles past McLaughlin by his near post.
21min: GOAL!!!!!!!!! – Oldham Athletic 0 Bradford City 1 –Wells fires City into the lead! Thompson is released into space down City’s right flank and the winger fires in a low cross that Wells smashes into the roof of the net from inside the six yard box by the near post.
20min: McLaughlin makes an important stop to keep the scores level! Nathan Doyle is robbed of the ball just outside City’s area by Ellis Plummer, leaving Clarke-Harris with a clear sight of goal just inside the penalty area. The striker tries to round McLaughlin but the ‘keeper vitally sticks out a leg and kicks the ball off Clarke-Harris’s toes before City can clear their lines.
18min:Korey Smith’s fizzing strike from outside the area is repelled by McLaughlin before the Bantams ‘keeper can gather up at the second attempt.
16min: City go close twice in the space of a few seconds! Thompson’s throw-in into the area is flicked on by James Hanson before Wells swoops in to fire a close range strike against the underside of Oxley’s bar. Shortly afterwards, the ball breaks out to Gary Jones just outside the area and his deflected strike has to be tipped over the bar by Oxley.
8min: A loose pass from James Meredith gives Dayton the time and space to charge towards City’s penalty area. To Meredith’s credit though, the left backs recovers the ground to dispossess Dayton just inside the box. The home fans call for a penalty but the tackle looked fair and play is waved on by referee David Webb.
3min: The left-footed James Dayton cuts inside from his right flank position before drilling a shot from outside the area straight into the mid-drift of Jon McLaughlin.
2min: Nahki Wells’ pull back from City’s right flank finds Garry Thompson and the winger fires a low shot from just inside the area narrowly of Mark Oxley’s far post.
0min: The Bantams kick off the match.

Oldham Athletic line up
Oxley, Lanzoni, Tarkowski, Grounds, Plummer, Dayton, Smith, Wesolowski, Schmeltz, Philliskirk, Clarke-Harris

Subs: Rachubka, Rooney, Mellor, Winchester, Rogers, Petrasso, Belezika

Oldham Athletic changes:

Rooney for Dayton (63), Mellor for Plummer (64), Petrasso for Schmeltz (73)

Oldham Athletic cautions

Plummer (55)

Bradford City line up

McLaughlin, Darby, McArdle, Bates, Meredith, Thompson, Doyle, Jones, Reid, Wells, Hanson

Subs: Ripley, Kennedy, Yeates, Taylor, Connell, De Vita, McBurnie

Bradford City changes:

Yeates for Thompson (78), McBurnie for Wells (90+2)

Bradford City cautions:

Hanson (26), McArdle (49), Reid (57)