Bradford City 1-0 Carlisle United: Bantams take slender lead into second leg
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Bradford won in front of a crowd of 20,575, a record attendance for a fourth-tier play-off semi-final tie
Bradford will take a slender advantage into the second leg of their League Two play-off semi-final with Carlisle.
The Bantams took the lead when Jamie Walker sent a clinical strike beyond Cumbrians goalkeeper Tomas Holy from Scott Banks' flick.
The away side improved as the first half went on but failed to force home keeper Harry Lewis into a save of note.
Carlisle carried on where they left off after the break but will go into the second leg on Saturday a goal behind.
Jack Armer sent a shot into the side-netting before subs Ryan Edmondson and Kristian Dennis both failed to hit the target from decent opportunities for the visitors.
After a physical encounter between two evenly-matched sides, both will back themselves to get the result they need at Brunton Park to face either Salford or Stockport in the final at Wembley on Sunday, 28 May.
Mark Hughes' men took a deserved lead when former Hearts player Walker crunched a bouncing ball under Holy after strong forward play from League Two's top scorer Andy Cook and a neat hook onwards from Banks.
Walker then drilled a shot past the post as Bradford looked to make the most of a record fourth-tier play-off semi-final match attendance of 20,575.
To their credit, Carlisle withstood the pressure and grew into the contest, and defender Corey Whelan should have done better with a headed chance before the interval.
Edmondson's introduction gave Paul Simpson's men a more mobile presence at the top end of the pitch. He harried Romoney Crichlow into an error on the byline and sent a cross-shot through the legs of Lewis, before the onrushing Armer sent his effort narrowly wide.
Former Leeds forward Edmondson then headed over from an excellent Armer centre and fellow sub Dennis hacked an effort wide after going round Lewis.
Bradford City boss Mark Hughes told BBC Radio Leeds:
"I think we have to be happy with the result. I thought we were excellent in the first half and maybe deserved to be more than 1-0 ahead.
"They made the decision to bypass our ability to press after the break and hit a lot of diagonals that we had to stand up to and for the most part we did that.
"It's the first time we have beaten them this year but it's only halfway. We still have a lot of work to do.
"These are the nights you want to be involved in as a player and a manager. It was a great atmosphere from start to finish. This is why I came back to do this job."
Carlisle manager Paul Simpson told BBC Radio Cumbria:
"I think we've done really well, we've created some fantastic chances but just not had the finish.
"The level of performance, the commitment, the desire, the energy; everything about it after we conceded the first goal was outstanding and I can't ask any more.
"I'm incredibly proud of the players for what they've done today and incredibly proud of the supporters who have backed us today.
"If we can perform like we've done and just get those finishing touches to the chances we've created, we can be more than a match for Bradford [in the second leg] and it's a game I'm really looking forward to."