The Bantams left the Cardiff City Stadium empty handed, after a late Newport County comeback condemned them to a 2-1 defeat.
Having taken the lead less than a minute into the second period, Matthew Dolan's brace condemned Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars' side to their first defeat in seven matches.
The hosts had the first chance at goal as Niall Canavan misplaced his pass to the Newport captain Joss Labadie, who drove forward before taking aim and dragging his effort wide of Sam Hornby’s goal.
The Bantams had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the 18th minute as Billy Clarke played Andy Cook in behind the defence.
The City striker got shown away from goal by Josh Sheehan, forcing him to dribble across the face of the Nick Townsend, before striking his effort low into the arms of the Exiles stopper.
City went ahead at the start of the second half as Priestley Farquharson lost the ball in the centre of the pitch.
Cook picked up the loose pass and found himself bearing down on goal. The 30-year-old darted away from his defender before blasting a shot into the bottom corner - for his fourth goal in City colours.
Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars’ side came close to extending their advantage as Connor Wood’s 20-yard strike rattled the crossbar - with a fingertip save from Townsend.
Paudie O’Connor almost got on the scoresheet midway through the second half when Elliot Watt whipped a corner towards the back post. The City skipper was unmarked, but sidefooted his shot wide of the mark.
Newport County were back level in the 77th minute as Josh Sheehan won his side a free-kick from 25 yards out. Matty Dolan stepped up and curled it over the wall and into the top right corner, beyond the outstretched arms of Hornby.
The visitors looked to retake the lead in second-half stoppage time as the ball was crossed into the penalty area and headed out to Charles Vernam - who took it on his chest from the edge of the 18-yard-area before striking just over the crossbar.
Michael Flynn’s side were awarded a penalty in the final minute of stoppage time when Levi Sutton was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the 18 yard area.
Dolan took the spot-kick and placed it into the bottom right corner of the goal - as Hornby could only get his fingertips to it - meaning that the Bantams suffered defeat for only the second time in 16 matches.
NEWPORT: Nick Townsend; Aaron Lewis (Kevin Ellison 74’), Mickey Demetriou, Matty Dolan, Priestley Farquharson; Liam Shephard, Scot Bennett (Ryan Taylor 58’) Josh Sheehan, Joss Labadie ©; Padraig Amond (Jake Scrimshaw 74’), Nicky Maynard (Dom Telford 58’). Subs (not used): Tom King, David Longe-King, Anthony Hartigan.
GOALS: Dolan (77', 90+5' pen).
CITY: Sam Hornby; Connor Wood, Niall Canavan, Paudie O’Connor ©, Anthony O’Connor; Ollie Crankshaw (Jordan Stevens 82’), Elliot Watt, Levi Sutton, Billy Clarke (Charles Vernam 67’); Danny Rowe (Gareth Evans 67’), Andy Cook (Clayton Donaldson 82’). Subs (not used): Richard O’Donnell, Callum Cooke, Finn Cousin-Dawson.
GOALS: Cook (46').
REFEREE: Will Finnie (Bedfordshire).