Bradford 1 Colchester 2: Bantams miss out on chance to gatecrash play-off places

Wes Thomas’s 17th-minute strike set Bradford, unbeaten in four games, looked like it could set them on their way to avenging September’s 2-0 defeat at Colchester but the visitors were level midway through the first half courtesy of Darren Ambrose’s volley.

Bradford struggled to get going after the interval and Ambrose won it for Colchester on 57 minutes.

Buoyed by Saturday’s win at Blackpool which moved them to within a point of the top six, the Bantams began brightly and were twice denied by Elliot Parish as the U’s goalkeeper first saved Thomas’s left-footed shot before regaining his feet to grab James Hanson’s header.

Hanson then fired Kyel Reid’s cross wide but the hosts did not have to wait long for the goal their start merited, Josh Cullen pouncing on an error by Kane Vincent-Young and crossing for Thomas to finish with the slightest of touches.

Colchester responded positively and were back on level terms when Chris Porter nodded a cross down to Ambrose whose well-struck volley found the bottom corner.

George Moncur curled a 25-yard strike against the post and then saw another shot deflected onto the bar in the early stages of the second half before Colchester deservedly hit the front.

Garvan’s header found Ambrose in acres of space in the box and the experienced midfielder drilled a low shot home.

Substitute Billy Clarke tried to lift the mood inside Valley Parade with an overhead kick which went just wide but that was as close as Bradford came to earning a point.

Bradford City: Williams, Darby, McArdle, N Clarke (Proctor 80), Meredith, McMahon, Cullen (B Clarke 60), Evans, Reid, Thomas (Marshall 60), Hanson. Unused substitutes: Cracknell, Knott, Leigh, Routis.

Colchester United: Parish, Vincent-Young (Gilbey 33), Chambers, Eastman, Shorey, Garvan, Edwards, Massey, Moncur (Harney 89), Ambrose (Bonne 80), Porter. Unused substitutes: Barnes, Lee, Akinwande, Oduwa.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).

Leicester City dropped two points in their quest for the Barclays Premier League title after being held to a 2-2 draw at home by West Brom.

Goals from Danny Drinkwater and Andy King cancelled out Salomon Rondon’s early opener before Craig Gardner’s free-kick earned a point for Albion.