Bradford 3 Morecambe 1: Jones extends home comforts as Bantams climb into play-off places

Leading scorer James Hanson put City in front a minute before half-time to put the seal on half an hour of sustained pressure, when only fine goalkeeping by Barry Roche prevented the home side from scoring.

Kyel Reid’s cross from the left eluded the visitors’ defence and Hanson turned smartly just inside the penalty area to fire past the diving keeper.

Roche twice denied Hanson’s fellow striker Alan Connell while winger Zavon Hines, a constant threat to the Morecambe defence down the right, saw his low, goalbound shot hit the keeper’s legs.

The visitors hit back after the interval, testing Bradford’s defence for the first time. They almost scored on the hour when City skipper Gary Jones cleared off the line after Richard Brodie flicked Stewart Drummond’s 20-yard shot past keeper Jon McLaughlin.

City appeared to have made the game safe when Reid scored their second after 81 minutes, taking a crossfield pass from Nathan Doyle before cutting in from the left and beating Roche with a low right-foot shot. But Morecambe pulled a goal back a minute later with a low left-foot shot from Andy Parrish.

City’s man of the match Jones put the result beyond doubt with a superb 20-yard free-kick after substitute Jack Redshaw was booked for bringing down Reid in full flight.

Bradford City: McLaughlin (Duke 88), McArdle, Davies, Oliver, Meredith, Hines (Atkinson 72), Jones, N Doyle, K Reid, Hanson, Connell (Wells 68). Unused substitutes: Thompson, Hines, Ravenhill, Darby, McHugh.

Morecambe: Roche, Parrish, Fenton, Haining, Threlfall (McDonald 86), Drummond, Wright, Fleming (Burrow 74), Brodie (Redshaw 63mins) I Reid, Ellison. Unused substitutes: Mwasile, C Doyle, McGee, Arestidou.

Referee: D Webb (County Durham).