Plenty of chances in a goalless draw

By Ray Simpson

Plenty of chances in a goalless draw

A point apiece at the Horsfall Stadium

 

Bradford PA 0 Darlington 0

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Quakers had to settle for a point in a low key goalless draw at the Horsfall Stadium.

Quakers had their chances, but couldn't convert them when they came along, plus they had what looked a justified penalty appeal turned down in the second half and a goal near the end disallowed.

The result means that the play offs are now mathematically out of Quakers' reach with two games remaining.

 

Bradford had the first real chance, when Lewis Knight picked up a pass from the right and put a left foot shot over the top from twelve yards out.

Nathan Lowe and Jarrett Rivers combined well on the right and Lowe put in a good cross to the far post, but there was no-one there, then Cameron Thompson found space on the right and crossed low into the middle, but Sykes-Kenworthy held on.

Darlington keeper Tommy Taylor then saved low down at the other end from Nicky Clee.

Jake Cassidy picked up a loose ball 25 yards out and struck a right foot shot that just went over the bar.

But when Cassidy and Thompson played a 1-2, Cassidy had a brief sight of goal before a defender cleared off his toes.

Cassidy had another chance on 22 minutes when his header from a great cross by Ben Hedley was blocked by a defender on the line, and in Quakers’ next attack, Thompson made a great run from the touchline and slid the ball back to him, but the keeper saved at the foot of his post.

The BPA keeper was yellow carded for needlessly tripping Thompson well out of his area on the way to the corner flag, and Lowe put the free kick just past the far post.

Up to half time, Thompson put a right foot shot over the top from 25 yards, then Dos Santos dribbled in from the left and fired well over.

Then in stoppage time, Cassidy dispossessed a defender in the box, and from an acute angle fired into the keeper’s hands.

Quakers had loud penalty shouts turned down on 52 minutes when Rivers seemed to be tripped in the area, but the ref turned down the appeals, and Knight took advantage on the break, got into the area, but pulled his shot wide.

Quakers almost scored on 56 minutes when Dos Santos weaved his way into a shooting position, but his right foot shot struck the inside of the post and rolled back into play.

Ben Hedley nearly opened the scoring on 61 minutes when he charged the ball down 25 yards out, got to the edge of the box and fired just wide of the right hand post.

Then a great break ended with Dos Santos failing to control Hedley’s cross just six yards out

Hedley had another effort from a corner blocked as Quakers looked for the winner.

But Bradford could have won it on 82 minutes when a cross came over from the right and Dockerty headed over from point blank range.

Then a couple of minutes later Fielding found space ten yards out to hit a first time shot that Taylor saved with his legs.

But Quakers thought they’d won it when Cassidy’s header went over the line from a corner, but the referee pulled him up for a foul.

Full time 

Bradford PA 0 Darlington 0

 

Team: Taylor, Hedley, Storey, Lawlor, Smith, Purver, Lowe (sub Moke 77), Rivers (sub Lambert 66), Dos Santos (sub Mondal 77), Thompson, Cassidy

 

Subs:  Rose, O’Neill

Bookings: Lowe

 

Bradford: Sykes-Kenworthy, Ross, Ragan, Odunston, Havern, Fielding, Mottley-Henry, Hopper, Dockerty (sub Windass 89), Knight (sub Johnson 66), Clee (sub Toulson 80)

Subs: Hall, Hinds,

Booking: Sykes-Kenworthy, Odunston

 

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