Bradford City 1 Accrington Stanley 1: Former Leeds player strikes late to deny Bradford all three points
Bradford conceded a corner on the right and, when the defence failed to clear Kevin McIntyre’s flag-kick, Hatfield equalised with a shot at the far post. The ball hit right-back Rob Kozluk, but was already over the line.
Bermudian international striker Nahki Wells put Bradford in front in the 50th minute, taking a long pass from Lee Bullock near the by-line before turning smartly to score with an acute angled left- foot shot that went into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
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Hide AdBoth sides twice went close in the first half. Craig Lindfield split the Bradford defence in the 24th minute to find Padraig Amond unmarked, but goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin came racing off his line to tackle the Accrington man.
The Bradford goalkeeper made an even better save when McIntyre’s long free-kick sped through a crowded goalmouth and he turned it around the post.
Bradford’s first chance came after 37 minutes when Wells chested down Kozluk’s throw into the path of Deane Smalley, whose low shot was saved by Lee Nicholls. Then Kyel Reid saw his low shot blocked on the line by Nicholls.
Bradford took charge in the second half, but were unable to hang on to their lead.
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Hide AdBradford City: McLaughlin, Kozluk, Davies, Oliver, Seip, Atkinson, Ravenhill, Bullock, Reid, Wells, Smalley (Hannah 83mins). Unused substitutes: Annerson, Fry, Jones, Haworth.
Accrington Stanley: Nicholls, Coid, Nsiala, Lindfield (Evans 67mins), Barnett (Hatfield 86mins), Joyce, Murphy, McIntyre, Devitt (Guthrie 67mins), Amond, Liddle. Unused substitutes: Dunbavin, Willis.
Referee: P Gibbs (West Midlands).