Wrexham's mini revival continued with a hard earned and well deserved point against a battling Bradford City in difficult conditions.
As the revolving dressing room door slowed down this week, Brian Little made just the one enforced change with new loan signing Drewe Broughton making his debut in place of the injured Paul Hall. In a fixture that was rearranged at short notice due to neither side having a match because of the FA Cup commitments of their original respective league opponents.
On a cold and windy day in North Wales Bradford kicked off attacking the Kop end of an expectant Racecourse ground. A positive start from both sides but Wrexham almost paid the penalty for a Gavin Ward fumble when he dropped a harmless free kick and had to scramble to rescue the situation at the feet of a Bradford forward.
Bradford packed the midfield with only Conlon up front but they probably had the better possession in the early stages, Wrexham were looking bright up front however with Stuart Nicholson looking very lively. The first quarter of an hour produced plenty of effort but no clear cut chances on goal as most of the play took place in the packed midfield area.
Wrexham were playing into the strong wind in the first half and with a bumpy pitch the conditions were not favourable for a flowing game, the new look Dragons were looking well organised and disciplined however.
On 25 minutes, Neil Roberts made a good run down the right wing, put a low cross in and Drewe Broughton shot on the turn but it clipped the bar with Ricketts well beaten. Bradford bounced back and won a corner which Wrexham struggled to clear, it was crossed back in and Conlon forced Ward into a good save with a header from 8 yards out.
Wrexham were looking dangerous down the right hand side and Stuart Nicholson put a good cross in from that very area on the half hour, Broughton just couldn't get on the end of the cross however and it ran to safety.
Omar Daley had caused one or two problems with his pace and on 37 minutes he beat Spender and set up Eddie Johnson for a shot, which the midfielder put over.
Wrexham bounced straight back and when Donovan Ricketts could only parry Neil Roberts shot up into the air on 39 minutes Chris Llewellyn and Drewe Broughton both forced the ball over the line from close range, but surely the goal belonged to the club skipper.
Bradford went close from a corner but it was the inspirational Roberts who blocked and cleared the header. Despite a frantic end to the half Wrexham held onto their lead at the break.
Second Half
Bradford replaced Darren Williams with Ben Starosta at the start of the second half. Wrexham started well and after some good work by Broughton and Nicholson, Llewellyn crossed and Neil Roberts volleyed over from 12 yards. Stuart Nicholson went down in the area on 48 minutes but referee Woolmer waved play on.
Bradford equalised on 49 minutes when Kyle Nix's shot appeared to take a wicked deflection and looped over the defence and nestled in the bottom corner of the net with Gavin Ward given no chance.
On 51 minutes a number of players were involved in a scuffle after a dreadful challenge by Daley on Llewellyn. He was lucky to escape with only a yellow card and Neil Roberts received a yellow card for his reaction to the challenge.
With 56 minutes on the clock Neil Roberts was fouled on the edge of the area, Danny Sonner put the free kick just wide of Rickett's goal. An injury to Eddie Johnson saw him stretchered off and replaced by Paul Evans on 63 minutes.
Bradford had the better of the opening quarter of an hour of the second half and Brian Little responded by putting on Jeff Whitley and Michael Proctor for Phil Bolland and Stuart Nicholson.
Wrexham went to a 4-3-3 formation and straight away Whitley put a good effort over the bar from 25 yards. Michael Proctor won a corner on 67 minutes, taken by Sonner Steve Evans header was deflected wide for a second corner. Sonner again took it and again found Evans whose diving effort went wide of the target.
Neil Roberts went close on 69 minutes but after a good build up the shot lacked power. A minute later Michael Proctor hit a fierce cross shot just wide of the Bradford goal as Wrexham pressed forward. Bradford weathered the storm and Ward held a header from Paul Evans free kick on 73 minutes.
On 75 minutes, Donovan Ricketts delayed his clearance from a poor back pass and Chris Llewellyn robbed him but couldn't get his shot in and was crowded out.
Bradford were pressing at this stage with Carl Tremarco defending especially well. Omar Daley hit a low shot on 81 minutes which Ward turned away for a corner. Bradford quickly won another one as they pushed Wrexham back.
Jeff Whitley curled another good effort just over on 83 minutes and then Michael Proctor forced a save out of Ricketts as Wrexham had a good spell in an end to end game.
There were four added minutes due to Johnson's injury and a superb tackle from Clarke denied Proctor a run on goal. Both sides pressed for a winner in the added time but neither could get one and the game ended in a draw.
Wrexham (3-5-2): Gavin Ward, Simon Spender, Steve Evans, Richard Hope, Phil Bolland (Michael Proctor 63), Carl Tremarco, Chris Llewellyn, Neil Roberts, Danny Sonner, Paul Hall , Stuart Nicholson (Jeff Whitley 63), Drewe Broughton.
Subs: Anthony Williams, Shaun Pejic, Rob Duffy.
Bradford City (4-5-1): Donovan Ricketts, Darren Williams (Ben Starosta 46), David Wetherall, Matthew Clarke, Paul Heckingbottom, Joe Colbeck, Eddie Johnson (Paul Evans 63), Lee Bullock, Kyle Nix, Omar Daley, Barry Conlon.
Subs: Ben Saynor, Simon Ainge, Willie Topp.
Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northampton)
Attendance: 4,341
Away: 535
Bookings -
Wrexham: Neil Roberts (retaliation)
Bradford City: Omar Daley (foul)
