O’Connor nets dramatic winner for 10-man Bradford

Posted Sunday, September 08, 2019 by PA

Defender Paudie O’Connor scored a dramatic late winner as Bradford came from behind to beat Northampton 2-1 at Valley Parade.

The win ended a run of two consecutive league defeats for Bradford, who ended the match with 10 men after substitute Zeli Ismail was sent off following a clash with Jordan Turnbull, who was also shown a yellow card in stoppage time.

The winning goal came in the 88th minute when Harry Pritchard, making his home debut after joining from Blackpool, crossed from the left.

David Cornell made a brilliant one-handed save to turn away Kelvin Mellor’s goalbound header but the ball went straight to O’Connor, who side-footed the ball into the net from an acute angle.

Northampton led at half-time after going in front in the 20th minute when the Bradford defence failed to clear Joe Martin’s right-wing corner and skipper Charlie Goode scored with a header from the edge of the six-yard box as a couple of Bradford defenders desperately tried to stop the ball crossing the line.

Bradford bossed the second half but nearly fell further behind in the 73rd minute, Richard O’Donnell making a fine save to turn substitute Vadaine’s Oliver’s close-range header over the bar.

The home side’s dominance finally paid off with a 77th minute equaliser when Michael Harriman could only turn the ball into his own net under pressure from Clayton Donaldson as he tried to clear Ismail’s cross.

Bradford’s comeback was completed with O’Connor’s winning goal before Ismail saw red after being booked twice in the space of eight minutes.