City’s under-19s were held to a 2-2 draw in their penultimate game of the EFL Youth Alliance North West Division, against Rotherham United at the Graham Solley Sports Development Centre.
A late first-half surge involving a well-taken Harry Ibbitson penalty and a clever finish from Gabe Wadsworth almost proved enough to see City take all three points in an exciting game decided by an injury-time leveller.
Previous encounters with the Millers this season had ended high-scoring affairs and Harry Ibbitson almost set a similar tone inside the opening 10 minutes.
A forced clearance from Lewis Boney deep inside his own half was latched onto by the Bantams’ top goalscorer. Running through one-on-one, he struck an early half-volley which was just about held by Bailey Hamilton.
However, following constant attacks on George Lord’s goal, Rotherham were the first on the scoresheet when the ball broke on the left wing. It was curled into the top-right corner, out of the reach of Lord.
It did not take long for City to respond as less than 10 minutes after the goal, Ibbitson was clipped in the box and won a penalty.
The club’s Neil Matthews Academy Player of the Year stepped up and rolled the ball past Hamilton into the bottom corner to equal the encounter, with his 29th goal of the season.
The rapid leveller only spurred City on more to gain the advantage before half-time, and six minutes later, they found it.
A deep cross from Cameron Paul was met by a delicate lob from Gabe Wadsworth, which dipped over Hamilton and rippled the net.
The last action of the half came when Lord made a fantastic save - diving at full stretch to tip the ball out for a corner - to deny the Millers any joy before the break.
Lord continued to pull out fine saves after the restart, too. After a deep corner was met by a looping header that looked destined to find the bottom-left corner, the City goalkeeper scampered across his line to touch the ball away from danger.
The Bantams had defended vigilantly all game, but against the run of play, claret and amber hearts were broken in the 91st minute.
A deep cross swung in from the right was thundered into the top corner by the Millers’ winger to earn his side a point.
The Bantams take the draw into their final game of the season against Hartlepool United on Friday May 3 at the Horsfall Community Stadium.
CITY: George Lord, Max Murray, George Goodman, Leon Brooks, Lewis Boney, Noah Wadsworth (Franklin Denison 64’), Joel Martin, Gabe Wadsworth (Mohamed Mahmoud 64’), Harry Ibbitson, Cameron Paul (Bilal Hussain 70’), Eni Rotimi (Zante Rose-Campbell 70’ (Hassan Ayub 89’)).
