The Bantams finished their Sky Bet League Two season with five-straight victories, with an emphatic 4-1 triumph over Newport County.
On a day where Valley Parade came together to mark the upcoming 39th anniversary of the Valley Parade Fire Disaster, two goals in each half from Calum Kavanagh and Andy Cook, and then Bobby Pointon and Jamie Walker, sealed the victory to leave City one point outside the play-offs.
With Graham Alexander's side wanting to continue recent form and to finish the season with their heads held high, the Bantams began the first five minutes well, with Cook spinning away from a Newport defender inside the box to force the first defensive action from County keeper Nick Townsend.
However, a loose pass from the City defence almost gave Newport the lead with Seb Palmer-Houlden running through only to aim his effort high and wide of Sam Walker’s net.
The Bantams struggled to gain a foothold for 15 minutes after that, with the visitors able to deal with any sort of passing play City could come up with.
In the 23rd minute, City once again went close, with Jamie Walker dancing around the Newport defence and sending his attempt just wide of the far post.
Just before the half-hour mark, Cook brilliantly brought down Sam Walker's long ball upfield to pass back to Calum Kavanagh, but Nelson Sanca blocked him off cleverly, as the City press was beginning to build.
As the game approached the halfway stage, the breakthrough finally came from the right side, as Jamie Walker released Brad Halliday down the right, and he crossed the ball in perfectly to land on Kavanagh's head to make it 1-0 in the 44th minute.
Shortly after, City doubled their advantage to take a two-goal lead into half-time, thanks to Andy Cook who notched his 19th goal of the season.
He rose and headed Smallwood’s excellent free-kick delivery home to establish a two-goal advantage just before the half, rewarding City’s hard working first period.
Following the break, City controlled the game and were rewarded with the crucial next goal as Bobby Pointon crashed the ball home from outside the area following a corner - all but assuring a final-day victory for the Bantams.
Newport would not leave without scoring, however, and would get a goal back in the 65th minute thanks to Harry Charsley, who converted a rebound from close range past Walker.
Ciarán Kelly came closest to adding a fourth on the 81st minute, heading inches away from his first league goal for the club, before Tyler Smith dragged an effort wide shortly after being introduced as a substitute.
City were not to be denied a fourth goal though, as Jamie Walker finished the game by sliding home Andy Cook's square pass to restore City's three-goal advantage.
Results elsewhere meant, despite victory, the Bantams finished the season ninth in the Sky Bet League Two table, one point and two places outside the play-offs.
CITY: Sam Walker, Brad Halliday, Matty Platt, Richie Smallwood (C), Jamie Walker, Calum Kavanagh (Tyler Smith 78’), Andy Cook, Ciarán Kelly, Daniel Oyegoke, Bobby Pointon (Clarke Oduor 78’), Tyreik Wright. Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Alex Giliead, Harry Chapman, Jonathan Tomkinson, Lewis Richards.
GOALS: Kavanagh (44'), Cook (45+1'), Pointon (57'), Walker (90+3').
NEWPORT: Nick Townsend, Will Evans, Bryn Morris, Harrison Bright (Harrison Bright 81’), Scot Bennett (C) (James Waite 67’), Harry Charsley, Kyle Jameson, Matt Baker, Seb Palmer-Houlden, Luke Jephcott (Mathew Bondswell 66’), Nelson Sanca. Subs not used: Jonny Maxted, Kiban Rai, Shane McLoughlin, Aaron Wildig, Jack Norris.
GOALS: Charsley (65').
ATTENDANCE: 18,842 (357 visiting supporters).
