Chesterfield 1-1 Bradford City

Saturday 24 April 2010
Coca-Cola League 2
Chesterfield 1 (Demontagnac 52)
Bradford City 1 (Evans 75)
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at the Recreation Ground, Saltergate

Attendance: 4109 (395 visitors)

Ten man Bradford City showed their battling qualities to leave their final visit to Saltergate with a respectable point in their pocket.

After an uneventful opening period, promotion chasing Chesterfield took the lead when Zesh Rehman's unfortunate slip let in Ismael Demontagnac to round Jon McLaughlin and slot home.

City's task was made even harder when Omar Daley was dismissed on his return from a hamstring injury.

The Jamaican received his marching orders for striking out at Dan Gray less than ten minutes after arriving onto the pitch as second half substitute.

City didn't let their one man disadvantage effect them however as Gareth Evans drew them level shortly after.

Evans showed great composure to knock the ball over Dan Hall before firing past Tommy Lee on the half volley from close out.

Chesterfield threw everything at the Bantams in the remaining minutes, including introducing former City striker Barry Conlon into the action as a late substitute.

The Bantams hung on though comfortably in the end to stretch their unbeaten run to four matches and claim a welcome point.

Peter Taylor made two changes to the side that started the last grasp win against Barnet with Michael Flynn and Matthew Clarke both returning to the starting eleven.

Clarke took the place of the ill Jonathan Bateson, meaning Rehman dropped to right back.

At a sun-drenched Saltergate, The Bantams enjoyed a bright opening period to the fixture and enjoy the best chances during the early exchanges.

Evans was on hand to work the first opening of the afternoon as he took advantage of a slack pass from Picken to race at the home defence.

His eventually shot was well struck, but Ian Breckin's diving block took the sting out of the effort to allow Lee to gather.

City went on the attack again when Leon Osborne reached Gavin Grant's near post cross first, but could only head over from six yards out.

The home side slowly grew into the match as time went by though, but only had Picken's fizzing wayward effort from distance to show for their improvement in play.

Drew Talbot's shot on the half hour mark went even further wide as both sides began to cancel each other out.

The match became rather bitty as half time approached, with petty fouls dominated proceedings far more than opportunites on goal.

City did enjoy one brief opening, however, before the interval.

Lee made a mess of Steve Williams cross as the ball bobbled out of the keeper's grasp.

Osborne managed to wriggle the ball away from Lee's clutches, but he couldn't get enough on his strike and Dan Hall managed to eventually clear the danger.

Chesterfield had headed into the match as a one of a number of team's desperate for points to secure a Play-Off place.

Spireites manager John Sheridan had clearly reminded his players about the importance of this fixture as they started the second period in bright fashion.

City's defence, which had looked comfortable thoughout the first half, managed to keep Chesterfield at arm's length though - until they were prised open in disappointing fashion.

Jack Lester's flick forward caused concern in the City defence as they failed to clear their lines.

As Rehman went to challenge Drew Talbot for the ball, the defender unfortunately slipped over as the ball bounced forward to Demonagtac.

As a result, the tricky winger had all the time in the world to round Jon McLaughlin and slot into an unguarded net to give his side the perfect start to the second period.

The Bantams still remained a presence in the fixture through, despite the setback of conceding, as events began to even out.

Evans tested Lee with a stinging low drive, while Allott fired just wide of McLaughlin's far post as City only half cleared a Spireites corner.

Just past the hour mark, Taylor decided then was the time to bring Daley back into the fray after six matches out.

The Bantams boss will have been hoping the Jamaican would make an impact on his return from injury, he did just that - but for all the wrong reasons.

As Robbie Threlfall prepared to take a City throw in, Daley and Dan Gray appear to exchange words further along the touchline.

The war of words continued before Daley flung out an arm into Gray's face.

The Bantams sub was shown an instant red card and City were left with an unhill task.

Just as the home side may have began to sense a welcome win against a wounded opponent, the ten men amazingly struck back.

Flynn found the advanced run of Evans inside the Spireites area and the Bantams striker did admirably to shift the ball away from Picken and over the head of Hall before firing past Lee from close range.

Suddenly, the Bantams had something to hold onto and a deserved point looked on the cards.

Flynn was left up front on his own as the rest of the men in claret were left to keep out the home side's advances.

Adam Bolder tried to cause Chesterfield even more woe with a rare run forward, but his shot from distance just arced over the bar.

With less than ten minutes remaining, City's former targetman Barry Conlon was throw into the mix as a late sub by the home side.

Following on from Bolder's chance, City went close again as Evans and Lee both looked to get to Flynn's through ball first.

Evans beat the keeper in a foot race, but the Keighley born stopper was just able to get his body in the way to deflect the ball away from goal.

The remainder of the match was to be played out in the Bantams half as Chesterfield desperately searched for a much-needed winner.

City, marshalled at the back by the brilliant Steve Williams and Matthew Clarke, easily coped with everything the home side threw at them on the whole as time ticked down.

The Bantams were caught napping briefly only once as Chesterfield took a quick short corner.

McLaughlin, who had little to do during most of the match, was on hand to produce his best save of the fixture as he tipped over Allott's header and secure City's point in the process.

Great report Bantam , time we had some more of your supporters on here now, have you tried posting it again on the Bradford fora recently ?

Not recently no.. Might be an idea to give it another shot though as the season is ending and things to be honest are looking on the up!

Well a draw is better then a win for the chessies, dropped another place down the table...

With all due respect that was a poor away following!
ok nothing to play for, but Chesterfield is only down the road, thought you would have taken a few more than that??

I have to conceed, piss poor following, we've took more to the likes of Accrington Stanley!

Really shocked with our following!

thought you'd have taken about 1500 at least.Don't mean anything nasty, but are you boys waiting for next year when you can sit down in there new stadium!!!

shawcross blue wrote:thought you'd have taken about 1500 at least.Don't mean anything nasty, but are you boys waiting for next year when you can sit down in there new stadium!!!

Missed the ''away'' support bit............395!! Jeez that is piss poor, Chessie isn't near Plymouth!!

We don't like Chesterfield?

I honestly can't think of any explanation as to why the following was like it was. I didn't go to this game, and I go to most away games so maybe that is why?