Bowyer barmy for goal hero Vaughan

GARY Bowyer hailed star striker James Vaughan after his header salvaged a point for his Bradford side at Macclesfield.

The former Premier League forward headed home late in the day to secure a draw and deny the hosts a first win since mid-October.

And the Bantams boss was delighted to see Vaughan get on the scoresheet after a glaring first-half miss when the game was goalless.

“That’s the sign of a good striker – when they miss they don’t let it affect them,” he said.

“He went again and got the next one.

“It was a wonderful goal to get back into it from Vaughany. It was a great freekick.

“We spoke about the areas to hit for him and fortunately the practice paid off.”

City were somewhat unlucky to go behind two minutes after the half-hour mark after dominating the early stages.

Corey O’Keeffe was sent tumbling by Ben Richards-Everton, and Jak McCourt sent former Silkmen keeper Richard O’Donnell the wrong way with the penalty.

Bradford should have been a goal up before that, but the unmarked Vaughan somehow put his finish wide in a real howler from six yards out.

In the second half it was the hosts who went closer to notching another with set-pieces seeing Fraser Horsfall and Fiacre Kelleher go close with headers.

But after Macclesfield failed to see off the visitors, Vaughan struck, glancing in Harry Pritchard’s wicked free-kick.

And though Bradford smelled blood late on with Connor Kirby dismissed for a second yellow card, they could not find a second goal.

Macclesfield manager Daryl McMahon was also happy to take a point, despite his side’s winless run extending to seven games.

He said: “It was a tough game against a very good side.”

“I’m pleased with the efforts and the application of the players.

“I think everyone knows this is a tough place to come, we’ve played most of the big sides in the league here now and we’ve done well against them.

“It was a good header from James, I’ll have to see it back to see how he got in there, and how we gave away a needless free-kick.

“But these things happen and we had chances to win.”