Notts County survived a second-half comeback to beat Bradford and get their League Two promotion drive back on track.
County produced a storming first-half display with David McGoldrick and Dan Crowley netting either side of Macaulay Langstaff’s brace, but a Richard Brindley own goal and Jamie Walker strike gave the hosts a nervy finish.
The deadlock was broken in the first five minutes when McGoldrick finished off a neat move down the right before Langstaff fortuitously doubled the hosts’ advantage after deflecting John Bostock’s goal-bound effort home.
He scored his second six minutes later after being slipped in by Crowley, who then made it 4-0 with a fine curling effort.
But the visitors came out fighting in the second half and Alex Gilliead’s strike deflected off Brindley to reduce the deficit, before Walker fired beyond Sam Slocombe to set up a tense ending.
Langstaff almost completed his hat-trick late on, with visiting striker Andy Cook also seeing a header saved on the line, as County ended a two-match losing streak and kept Graham Alexander waiting for his first win as Bradford boss.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Notts County
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Slocombe
- 2Brindley
- 15BaldwinBooked at 90mins
- 4CameronSubstituted forRawlinsonat 61′minutes
- 11Nemane
- 6O’BrienSubstituted forGoslingat 74′minutes
- 16BostockSubstituted forAustinat 61′minutes
- 14Randall-HurrenSubstituted forAdebayo-Rowlingat 61′minutesBooked at 77mins
- 7Crowley
- 17McGoldrickBooked at 69minsSubstituted forMoriasat 81′minutes
- 9Langstaff
Substitutes
- 5Rawlinson
- 8Austin
- 21Adebayo-Rowling
- 26Stone
- 27Morias
- 28Macari
- 32Gosling
Bradford
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Lewis
- 2Halliday
- 4TaylorSubstituted forPlattat 45′minutes
- 15Stubbs
- 32Richards
- 23PointonSubstituted forKellyat 45′minutes
- 11Gilliead
- 6Smallwood
- 7Walker
- 14SmithSubstituted forWilsonat 71′minutes
- 9Cook
Substitutes
- 5Platt
- 8Osadebe
- 12Oduor
- 13Doyle
- 18Kelly
- 20Chapman
- 33Wilson
- Referee:
- Tom Reeves
- Attendance:
- 11,909
Live Text
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Match ends, Notts County 4, Bradford City 2.
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Second Half ends, Notts County 4, Bradford City 2.
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Aden Baldwin (Notts County) is shown the yellow card.
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Aden Baldwin (Notts County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Brad Halliday (Bradford City).
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Sam Slocombe (Notts County).
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Attempt saved. Andy Cook (Bradford City) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Brad Halliday with a cross.
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Attempt blocked. Alex Gilliead (Bradford City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Richard Smallwood.
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Foul by Aaron Nemane (Notts County).
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Matthew Platt (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Alex Gilliead (Bradford City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Harry Lewis.
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Attempt missed. Macaulay Langstaff (Notts County) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
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Richard Brindley (Notts County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Andy Cook (Bradford City).
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Corner, Notts County. Conceded by Jamie Walker.
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Corner, Notts County. Conceded by Jamie Walker.
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Corner, Notts County. Conceded by Ciarán Kelly.
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Offside, Bradford City. Richard Smallwood tries a through ball, but Brad Halliday is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Junior Morias (Notts County) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Aaron Nemane.
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