BRADFORD CITY 1

BARROW AFC 1

BARROW’s late curse struck again as Andy Cook’s late leveller ensured the club’s wait for a league win stretched to eight.

Robbie Gotts opened the scoring for the visitors before Cook’s header saw two points go begging at Valley Parade.

Stephen Clemence’s confidence-zapped charges have dropped 11 points with goals conceded in the final 15 minutes in games in their last eight games.

Amazingly, they are only five points off the play-off pace despite their sorry two-month spell — which has seen them pick up just three points from a possible 24.

Rory Feely returned to the starting line-up, whilst Clemence was boosted by the returns of Emile Acquah and Kian Spence to the bench.

Barrow burst out of the blocks as they put the Bantams firmly on the back foot.

Feely almost made an immediate impact as the Bluebirds went close inside the opening minute.

A trademark long throw from the Irish defender found Theo Vassell, who forced Sam Walker into a good stop to tip his effort over the bar.

Striker Andy Dallas came close to opening the scoring when he fired over the bar from Elliot Newby’s cross.

Paul Farman had an easy early tester from Olly Sanderson’s tame header.

Farman, who has only recently returned from a frustrating injury, was at his proactive best as he snuffed out any potential Bantams’ danger in the first half.

And the Bluebirds’ number one needed his wits about him on the stroke of half-time as he adjusted quickly to push Alex Pattison’s deflected strike away.

The two sides continued to cancel each other out early in the second period.

But it was the visitors who struck first just before the hour mark.

It was another delicious delivery from the boot of Ben Jackson as former Leeds United man Gotta reacted quickest to tap home.

Opposition boss Graham Alexander had seen enough as he made a quadruple substitution in a desperate bid to get the Bantams something out of the game.

Spence came off the bench for the final 20 minutes as he made his first appearance for over a month.

And he was not the only Bluebird who the travelling faithful were delighted to see back on the pitch as towering forward Acquah returned after a seven-game absence.

Bradford’s star striker Cook levelled with ten minutes to go as Barrow were gutted at the death once again.

The experienced hit man struck the hammer blow as he coolly nodded home from Bobby Pointon’s cross, after the young midfielder did well after an initial slip. 

Both sides had chances to steal the spoils at the end, but were forced to settle for a point on the night.

Gotts saw a late volley deflected wide before Farman produced a good save to keep out Calum Kavanagh at the near post to secure a point.