Report, highlights & reaction: Bradford City 2-2 Morecambe

The Shrimps let a two goal lead slip to draw 2-2 at Bradford City in their Boxing Day League Two encounter at the University of Bradford Stadium.

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The Shrimps came out of the blocks quickly and found themselves a goal up after less than three minutes.

Adam Mayor’s free kick from the right wasn’t cleared, and the ball pinged off a Bradford player into the path of James Connolly who found the bottom corner from close range.

Moments later, Tyler Smith forced Adam Smith in the Morecambe goal into a clever save to deny the Bantams an immediate equaliser.

Morecambe doubled their lead on 18 minutes.

Great work down the left by Jordan Slew saw the forward carry the ball to the by-line before squaring into the path of JJ McKiernan who forced the ball home at the near post for his seventh goal of the season.

Again, after conceding, the Bantams nearly halved the deficit instantly as Emmanuel Osadebe raced through on goal, only to be denied by an onrushing Smith once more.

The Shrimps held the hosts at arms length for the rest of the half, with efforts from Joe Tomkinson, Andy Cook and Richie Smallwood all comfortably dealt with, while Eli King had a fierce strike deflected behind for a corner.

Bradford came our strongly after half time, forcing Morecambe into plenty of defensive work.

Substitute Clarke Oduor saw an effort go flying over the bar, before Cook was booked for diving inside the Morecambe box.

The home side pulled one back on 59 minutes. Morecambe got caught in possession in their own half, and from a cross Cook nodded down and there was Oduor to pounce to finish from 10-yards.

The Shrimps continued to defend well and protect the lead, but their resolve was broken eight minutes from time.

Ciaran Kelly had space on the left to whip a very dangerous ball in, and there was Brad Halliday to smash home at the back post for the equaliser.

Morecambe now travel to Notts County on Friday (December 29, kick off 7:45pm).