Kenyan international Clarke Oduor came off the bench to begin the comeback for Bradford City came from two gals down to secure a 2-2 draw with Morecambe in a League Two clash
Kenyan international Clarke Oduor led a second half comeback for Bradford City as they came from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw with Morecambe in their first home game on Boxing Day for six years.
The visitors needed only three minutes to take the lead. Adam Mayor's free-kick was not cleared by the home defence and the ball rebounded into the path of James Connolly to score from 10 yards.
Adam Smith spread himself to deny Tyler Smith a quick response before Morecambe doubled their lead when JJ McKiernan tapped home after good play on the left wing from Jordan Slew.
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Smith again prevented Bradford from replying with a sharp save from Emmanuel Osadebe.
Morecambe almost made it 3-0 after 43 minutes but former Bradford midfielder Yann Songo'o sent a header against a post as both sides went into the break with a 2-0 lead in favour of the visitors.
Bradford coach Graham Alexander made changes at halftime with Oduor among those who were introduced and he reaped immediate dividends.
The hosts came flying out of the gates in the second half, coming close to immediately getting on the scoresheet through Oduor.
Some intricate play down the right flank from Alex Gilliead saw him cut back a lovely cross into the path of Oduor, whose goalbound shot deflected behind off Tyler Smith, as the Bantams looked to pressure the away side.
Their pressure told, however, and Bradford did get on the scoresheet through Oduor, after Gilliead won the ball back high up the pitch.
Gilliead played Bradley Halliday in down the right-hand side whose cross was met by the thigh of Andy Cook, where an awaiting Oduor was there to get the home side back into the encounter.
The Bantams continued to pile the pressure on their visitors, looking for an equaliser. A fantastic free-kick delivered in from Smallwood was met by Matty Platt, but his looping header flew over, as the momentum continued to side with the hosts.
Bradford made their pressure pay in the 83rd minute, drawing level through Brad Halliday's first goal of the season.
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The Bantams had been building and pressurising the Shrimps' goal. Ciarán Kelly swung a dangerous ball to the far post where Halliday emphatically powered home to give Bradford a more than deserved equaliser, much to the delight of the home faithful.
The draw ended Bradford’s six-match winning run, leaving them 10th in league Two with 33 points from 23 games, ahead of Friday’s meeting with league leaders Stockport County.