Morecambe 2 Bradford City 1

Last updated : 10 April 2009 By Footymad Previewer
Bradford City boss Stuart McCall was left fuming after his side's play-off hopes were dealt another blow.

The Bantams' boss was angered by a decision not to allow Bradford a second goal just a minute after the restart when Peter Thorne's header looked to have beaten Barry Roche and cleared the line before he pulled it back.

But the linesman failed to spot it and the goal wasn't given in a decision that gave Sammy McIlroy's Morecambe side a clear lift.

It was a decision that the Bantams never seemed to recover from and they lost their composure - and their grip on the game as Morecambe came back strongly.

The Shrimps pulled one back on 55 minutes when the Bradford defence failed to spot the danger from midfielder Stewart Drummond, who raced into the box to head a cross from former Huddersfield Town man Danny Adams past Rhys Evans from 12 yards out.

And the large band of travelling fans were left stunned 15 minutes from time when home striker Rene Howe scored a stunning winner.

The on-loan Peterborough man took the ball 35 yards from goal and unleashed a fierce right-foot effort that flew into the top corner of the Bradford net.

The Bantams staged a late revival with a Joe Colbeck cross inches too high for Paul Mullin and substitute Steve Jones nipping in between defenders and goalkeeper to head just wide of the right-hand post.

It all looked so different for Bradford at the break after they dominated the first half.

The visitors had the better chances of the opening period with Roche saving superbly from Paul Mullin on 28 minutes, after the on-loan Accrington striker shared a neat one-two with Thorne.

Thorne himself then came close with a shot that fizzed across the six-yard box after a mistake by Jim Bentley before the pressure paid off with an opening goal on 36 minutes.

Nicky Law swung in a right-wing corner and Matt Clarke was left unmarked to head past Barry Roche from six yards out.