THIS was a game that either team could have won and in the end was decided by a very special goal from Luke Medley. There were chances galore for both teams and a draw would have been the fairest result, but it was not to be, despite an excellent display from Wrexham.
On this showing, it would be no surprise if both teams were in the promotion places come next May, but that will be of little consolation to Wrexham and their fans as they headed home from west Yorkshire after a pulsating game of football.
From an early free-kick the ball bounced between two Bradford attackers as they lunged after it some 10-yards from goal.
A cleverly worked City corner on five minutes, saw the ball played to Paul Evans 25-yards out and with no one closing him down he fired a shot goalwards that Anthony Williams was only too glad to block before grabbing the loose ball on the edge of his six-yard box.
Another dangerous free kick by the Bantams saw the ball returned to Heckingbottom and his first time effort was well saved by Williams as the keeper used his full length to tip away the volley for another corner.
This early City barrage on the Wrexham goal also saw former Sheffield Wednesday striker Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu send in a viciously deflected effort that looped over Williams and crashed on his crossbar. The rebound as headed away by Simon Spender, but City had three other players chasing the ball down and it took two further blocks before the danger was finally cleared.
With home full back Darren Williams off the field for treatment on 22 minutes, Matty Done took advantage to create some space for himself and arrowed a shot towards the top corner of Donovan Ricketts' net and it produced a flying save from the 6'4" Jamaican to deny the winger.
A Wrexham corner on 27 minutes dropped over the head of two defenders who rose to meet the ball, but having missed them it hit the ankles of a startled Richard Hope, who couldn't react quickly enough to take advantage.
Bradford responded with a cross from Omar Daley, and with his back to goal Ndumbu-Nsungu met the ball with an overhead kick that forced Williams into another save.
The visitors hit back with a run by Done and from his cross Chris Llewellyn popped up in the middle of the goal to send in a firm header, but straight at the City keeper.
Kyle Nix started a City attack on the right and after pushing the ball out Ndumbu-Nsungu on the left the midfielder continued his run and should have scored with a free header at the near post as no Wrexham player picked him up.
HT
After only three minutes of the second half, Done once again showed his shooting skills with an effort from 22-yards that Ricketts did well to push away. But as Bradford City swept up to the other end of the field the Reds managed to dispose Daley, only for the ball to run into the path of Eddie Johnson, who from 20 yards fired a low effort that found the corner of Williams' net.
The Bantams flooded forward and from a corner 60 seconds later there was a melee in the six-yard box, with Williams making a save and then the massed ranks of Wrexham defenders eventually were able to clear their lines.
Done's pace then created another opening on 53 minutes and it took a great save from Ricketts to deny him, but at the expense of a corner. From a second corner in that move, Danny Williams dived full length to meet the ball, but once again the City keeper denied him.
From the resulting corner, Williams took the ball at the back of the box and pushed forward to the byline, crossing deep for Neil Roberts to head home from just three yards out after 54 minutes. Much to the delight of the 500 travelling fans gathered behind the goal Wrexham were attacking, but unfortunately a couple got carried away by the stewards for getting a little too excited in their celebrations.
Proctor then picked up a silly booking on 56 minutes, for holding back his marker, and when Heckingbottom stepped up to take the free kick, his near 30-yard effort whistle through the Wrexham defence but was met by Williams, who held onto the effort.
Llewellyn set up a Wrexham attack on 66 minutes, only to have his heels clipped by Paul Evans as the moved continued, but as the visitors pushed forward there were screams for a penalty when Heckingbottom appeared to use hand to touch the cross away.
Evans, the former Shrewsbury and Brentford midfielder, took one of his trademark 30-yard free kicks after 70 minutes and forced Williams into another finger tip save to push the ball just wide of his right hand post.
The game continued to swing from end to end, with Done again causing problems on the Bradford right, a cross cleared David Wetherall's head, but the lurcking Proctor was not unable to make the most of a free chance.
Proctor was on the end of good Wrexham move after 73 minutes, heading over the Bradford crossbar following a six-man move.
Both teams then changed a striker with Eifion Williams replacing Roberts and Luke Medley coming on for Conlon.
Bradford went back in front on 78 minutes with a quite exceptional solo goal from Luke Medley, as the forward found himself with no support on the left wing and fired in an dipping angled shot that dropped over Williams and inside his back post.
City were urged on by the 13,000 fans and Daley suddenly sprung back into life on the right flank with two tempting crosses in succession. One which no one connected with and then a second which Medley headed over the Wrexham crossbar from close range.
A double substitution with four minutes to go saw Mark Jones and Josh Johnson on for Matty Done and Danny Williams.
Even with five minutes of added time played, there was to be no way back into the game for the Reds.
Had the game ended in a draw then neither side could have complained, but to end up on the losing, having put in so much effort on the day, was very frustrating.
Bradford City: Donovan Ricketts, Darren Williams (Simon Ainge 22), Paul Heckingbottom, Paul Evans, David Wetherall, Mark Bower, Omar Daley, Eddie Johnson, Barry Conlon (Luke Medley 76), Kyle Nix, Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu (Scott Phelan 83).
Subs: Joe Colebeck, Nathan Joynes.
Wrexham: Anthony Williams, Simon Spender, Shaun Pejic, Richard Hope, Ryan Valentine, Chris Llewellyn, Levi Mackin, Danny Williams (Josh Johnson 86), Matty Done (Mark Jones 86), Neil Roberts (Eifion Williams 75), Michael Proctor.
Subs: Michael Jones, Steve Evans.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Attendance: 13,546
Away: 507
Bookings -
Bradford: Nix (51, foul), Ainge (62, foul),
Wrexham: Proctor (56, foul), Mackin (69, foul), Jones (90, foul)
