BRADFORD CITY AFC

Two goals to one up heading into the final knockings of the contest, City looked in control and on their way to their seven league away win of the season when Vale were awarded a penalty deep in stoppage time after Jordan Pickford was adjudged to have brought down Valiants substitute Chris Birchall when through on goal.

Pickford was dismissed for his misdemeanor, while Michael O'Connor slotted home the resulting spot-kick past replacement shot-stopper Ben Williams to snatch a barely deserved share of the spoils for Rob Page's team.

Earlier in the match, City striker James Hanson had given Parkinson's men the half time lead when he headed home from close range following Filipe Morais' floated ball into the six yard box for his eighth goal of the season.

Vale briefly equalised after the break when former City trialist Achille Campion converted past Pickford just before the hour mark but the Bantams were quickly back in front later in the half.

Just minutes after Billy Knott had been denied a goal thanks to a fine reaction save from Chris Neal, Morais swooped to volley past the Vale 'keeper after he had parried a James Meredith cross into his path.

The goal was Morais' sixth of the season and his third in consecutive games.

Hanson had a chance to wrap things up roughly ten minutes from the end when he latched onto Jon Stead's pull-back from the byline but the big striker was repelled by another close range stop from Neal.

Although a third goal would have surely wrapped things up, the near-miss from Hanson didn't look costly for City though as they were seemingly keeping Vale at bay - until the late penalty drama.

90+5min: The ball drops to Liddle a few yards outside the box following Meredith's half-cleared throw-in into the area but the midfielder's volley sails over the bar.

90+4min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Ben Wiliams for Yeates to face the resulting spot-kick.

90+2min: PENALTY + RED CARD - Drama here at Vale Park as Pickford is red carded and a penalty is awarded after the 'keeper is adjudged to brought down Birchall as the Vale substitute is played through on goal by Pope.

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

89min: YELLOW CARD - Despite letting play go on, referee Mr Michael Bull books Morais at the next stoppage in play for trying to block Marshall as the Vale winger bursts into City's half of the pitch.

87min: After latching onto Hanson's headed flick on from a deep free-kick, Stead turns into shooting space but his effort from just inside the box is straight at Neal.

86min: SUB - Port Vale bring on Greg Luer for Duffy.

81min: Close again for the Bantams! Stead's pull-back from the byline finds Hanson but the striker's effort on the stretch from close range is repelled by the frame of Neal!

80min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Mark Yeates for Knott.

78min: Hanson chests the ball into Halliday's path but the midfielder's left-footed half-volley from outside the box flashes a good yard or so wide of Neal's far post.

65min: GOAL!!!!! Port Vale 1 Bradford City 2 - City are back in front! Meredith's cross from the left is knocked away from Hanson by Neal but Morais is on hand to smash home the loose ball as it drops to him from around ten yards out!

63min: So close for the Bantams! Morais' cross into the area is headed down into the mix by Hanson for the lurking Knott but the midfielder's close range stab for goal is somehow held by Neal to prevent it just rolling over the line!

55min: Marshall's cross into the area is met by Pope but the striker's left-footed side-footed effort low on the volley bounces wide of Pickford's near post.

52min: YELLOW CARD - Halliday is booked for catching Brown with a late high boot just inside City's half of the pitch.

49min: GOAL!!!!! No! City have a goal disallowed after Hanson bungles into the back of Veseli while the striker looked to connect with a teasing Morais cross. Knott latches home the loose ball but the whistle had already gone before for the foul by Hanson on Veseli.

48min: O'Connor's hanging cross is headed goalwards by Pope but Pickford reaches up to claim the ball.

46min: The Bantams restart the match.

HT SUB: Vale bring on Achille Campion for Lines just before the beginning of the second period.

45+1min: Some neat City build-up play sees Stead play Billy Knott into space inside Vale's penalty area. Instead of shooting though, the Bantams midfielder tries to play the ball across the area to Hanson and Vale can clear their lines.

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

44min: Pope attempts to play Birchall through on goal with only Pickford to beat but, just as the City 'keeper comes from his net to address the situation, McArdle gets his body in the way and manages to take control of possession and bring the ball out of the box.

36min: SUB - Port Vale bring on Chris Birchall for Daniel, who appears to have picked up an injury.

28min: A mix up behind Duffy and Vale 'keeper Chris Neal allows Stead to nip in and touch the ball away from them both on the very edge of Vale's box. Unfortunately for Stead, he tangles with Neal, meaning he is unable carry on running for goal and Veseli can kick clear.

25min: A good bit of City pressure in and around Vale's penalty area eventually ends when Frederic Veseli clears out a James Meredith cross.

24min: Filipe Morais' corner delivery is headed out by the near post by Colin Daniel but only as far as Andy Halliday inside the Vale box. Halliday's shot for goal is deflected away before Hanson's attempted pull-back from the byline is also blocked behind for a corner.

20min: A well-positioned Rory McArdle manages to get his body in the right place at just the right time for City! Chris Lines' cross into the area is headed for goal by Duffy but the ball hits McArdle before bouncing up into the clutches of a grateful Jordan Pickford.

18min: A quick free-kick from City plays Jon Stead into space deep inside Vale's penalty box. Stead fires the ball low across the six yard box but Andrew Davies can only bundle the ball behind for a goal kick over by the far side while under pressure from Richard Duffy.

17min: Michael O'Connor's whipped ball into the area bounces across City's six yard box before an alert Stephen Darby clears away from the lurking Tom Pope over by the far side.

0min: Vale kick off the match. City will defend the goal just in front of their away fans in the first period.

PORT VALE LINE UP:

Neal, Duffy, Robertson, Veseli, Dickinson, Lines, Brown, O'Connor, Marshall, Daniel, Pope

Subs: Johnson, Yates, McGivern, Birchall, Luer, O'Sullivan, Campion

Birchall for Daniel (36), Campion for Lines (46), Luer for Duffy (87)

BRADFORD CITY LINE UP:

Pickford, Darby, McArdle, Davies, Meredith, Liddle, Morais, Halliday, Knott, Hanson, Stead

Subs: Williams, Sheehan, Clarke, Zoko, Yeates, MacKenzie, Routis

Halliday (52), Morais (89)

Pickford (90+2)

Yeates for Knott (80), Williams for Yeates (90+4)