Gillingham strengthen survival bid as relegated Bradford end losing run

Posted Tuesday, April 23, 2019 by PA

Relegated Bradford ended a run of seven successive defeats with a 1-1 draw at home to Gillingham, who took another step towards League One safety with their hard earned point.

The Gills pulled to six points clear of the relegation zone with two matches to play.

Bottom club Bradford went in front after ten minutes with a close range header from right back Kelvin Mellor, returning to the side after missing the last seven matches through injury.

Billy Clarke’s inswinging free kick from the right caused problems for the visitors’ defence and Mellor seized his chance to plant a firm header past keeper Tomas Holy.

However, Gillingham equalised in the 53rd minute when the Bantams keeper Ben Wilson failed to hold substitute Bradley Garmston’s left wing cross and Brandon Hanlon squeezed the ball into the net as the Bradford defence hesitated, apparently waiting for the referee to blow for a foul on the keeper.

After that, Gillingham came closest to grabbing the winner when Regan Charles-Cook saw his shot from the edge of the penalty area hit the crossbar and Mark Byrne had a shot blocked a minute later.

Bradford enjoyed plenty of possession, but rarely troubled Holy although Sean Scannell was denied by a block from Connor Ogilvie.