A point with a chicken balti

Stan - left with us still a goal down

The game started brightly on a heavy pitch with both sides looking threatening going forward and Matt O’Neill got into several dangerous positions with only his final touch letting him down.

The back four looked to be coping well with Bradford’s front pairing until the 23^rd minute when Bradford’s most dangerous looking player Ben Muirhead was played in and slotted past an advancing Rachubka.

On 31 minutes Dean West had a long range free kick deflected just wide of Alan Combe’s left hand post. Stan sitting just behind us signalled to the bench soon after the half-hour mark and Black was immediately replaced in central midfield.

The first half finished 1-0 and to add to the disappointment only Chicken Balti pies were available.

The Clarets started the second half brightly with Luke Chadwick wasting two great chances in the first 15 minutes, firstly volleying just wide from a Paul Weller cross then firing straight at the keeper when unmarked from 8 yards when easier to score.

Marc Pugh down Burnley’s right hand side found space well and caused problems on several occasions.

The heavy pitch began to cut up badly and as changes were made it looked like nil points for Jeppo’s men with Stan leaving on 75 minutes.

With 10 minutes to go Bradford cut open the Burnley defence and from 12 yards Rob Wolleaston forced a superb reaction save from Rachubka. The follow up hit the cross bar and was forced in but the referee pulled play back for a definite push on the keeper.

With time running out Burnley pushed forward and on 87 minutes Alan Moore played a superb ball across the Bantams’ six yard box, the ball was deflected in off Bradford defender Simon Francis and into the net. Cue some groans from the locals but we deserved it!!!

Back to Lancashire with a point and probably a dodgy belly from the pies.

Starting Line Ups:

Burnley (4-4-2): Paul Rachubka, Dean West, Arthur Gnohere (Marc Pugh), Ryan Townsend, Alan Hunter (Neal Trotman), Bradley Orr, Paul Weller, Jonathan Black (Joe Booth), Luke Chadwick, Matt O’Neill, Alan Moore.

Bradford (4-4-2): Alan Combe, Gareth Edds, Jake Wright, Tom Kearney, Peter Folkes, Simon Francis, Ben Muirhead, Michael Standing, Danny Forest, Rob Wolleaston, Liam Flynn.