Valley Parade was the host ground for two teams fighting at either end of the League Two table! The Bantams looking to solidify their place in the playoffs and break into the automatic positions & Pools trying to pull away from the dreaded relegation places.
Bradford made no changes to their lineup for the sixth time, with Mark Hughes looking to his main man Andy Cook to try and get a firmer grip on that golden boot trophy. John Askey opted to make one change for Hartlepool, bringing Daniel Dodds back into the starting XI to give a more attacking threat down the right wing in place of Arsenal loanee Taylor Foran.
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It didn’t take the home side long to show that they would be an attacking threat in the tie with Andy Cook putting in an early cross in the second minute to meet with the less favoured foot of Dara Costelloe the Irishman placed just wide. Shortly after there was concern in the Bantams’ camp when Jamie Walker pulled up with what looked to be a knee knock, this, however, was short-lived when he drove a counterattack forward to put Cook through on the Pools goal though the effort was saved by Stolarczyk.
Hughes’ side was providing continued pressure on the visitors, but it was Hartlepool who would hit the back of the net first. Jamie Sterry showed the threat that he can be down the right side and played the ball into Connor Jennings in the box, who laid up the returning Callum Cooke who hammered the ball into the net, becoming the first person to score against Harry Lewis in open play in 548 minutes.
Pools came close to doubling their lead in the closing stages of the half but it wasn’t to be when the effort of Dan Kemp was blocked by the Bradford defence.
Half Time:- Bradford 0 – 1 Hartlepool
The start of the second half saw Bradford going straight on the front foot and winning a dangerous free kick just outside of the box, the foul committed by midfielder Mo Sylla picking up the first booking of the game. Their captain Ritchie Smallwood swung the free kick into the box meeting the diving head of leading goalscorer Andy Cook to level the score to 1-1.
Both sides went on to create chances to take a firmer grip on the match, Jennings making Harry Lewis work once again to put the ball wide, and then Bradford striker Dara Costelloe was found unmarked at the back post, though the man from Limerick put the ball wide.
The 71st minute saw one of the best bits of play of Hartlepools season with Dodds, Sylla & Sterry linking up and feeding the ball to loanee Kemp who danced around the Bradford defence, placed the ball into the net scoring his 6th goal in 9 games.
Pools lead was short-lived, the newly introduced Scott Banks made an instant impact and made himself known to the Pools defence, got past Edon Pruti, crossed the ball and found a free Andy Cook at the back post who volleyed home the finish in spectacular fashion to level for Bradford once again!
Neither side wanted to settle for a draw with a lot to fight for at both ends of the table and looked to leave Valley Parade with the spoils! Both goalkeepers were made to work for the full 90 minutes making important saves for their respective sides & neither side found the winner when the ref blew the whistle on a highly entertaining game of football.
Full Time:- Bradford 2 – 2 Hartlepool
