Super-sub Dom’s late double nets dramatic draw for Boro
Despite being outplayed for long periods, battling Boro staged a sensational late comeback to snatch a 2-2 home draw in Tuesday's derby against Bradford Park Avenue.
The visitors went ahead after just six minutes, with a fantastic goal from Jamie Spencer, when he tried a long range lob from just inside the Boro half, and the ball sailed over the head of stranded keeperJoeCracknell,andfour minuteslatertheyalmostdoubled their lead, but Harrison Hopper'schipwasflickedover the bar by Cracknell, writes Steve Adamson.
Boro were penned back into defence, but almost got back level following a rightwing corner from Ryan Watson, when Kieran Weledji's downwardsheaderwastipped round the post by George Sykes-Kenworthy.
On 39 minutes a thunderous20-yardvolleyfromBrooks was met by a superb diving save from Boro keeper Cracknell, and another shot from Brooks was deflected wide by Bailey Gooda.
Bradford doubled their lead five minutes into the second half with another superb goal,whenaright-wingcorner from Spencer fell to star man Brooks,andhetookatouchbefore placing his shot into the bottomrightcornerofthenet.
As the game entered the last 10 minutes, Boro suddenlybegantocreatechances, and Michael Coulson headed widefromaWatsonfree-kick, then Ash Jackson sent a freekick into the box, and Gooda turned and fired in a shot which was blocked.
A Gooda header from another Watson free-kick was deflected out for a corner on 86 minutes, and Watson sent over the corner. The ball was headed out towards sub Dom Tear,whosentastunningvolley into the top left corner to reducethevisitors'leadto2-1.
Bradford's Adam Nowakowski
fired just wide, before Boro grabbed a dramatic last-minute equaliser, when a Watson shot was blocked, thenTear'sstrikefromtherebound was deflected out for a corner. Watson sent over the corner to the far post, Gooda directed his header goalwards, but his effort was saved on the goal-line, only for Tear to slam the loose ball pastthestunneddefendersto sendthebighomecrowdwild with delight.
There was further drama after the final whistle when a scuffle broke out, and the referee brandished a red card to Bradford's Spencer.