Summary

  • Bradford won first leg of League Two play-off semi-final

  • Jamie Walker scored Bradford's winner midway through first half

  • Second leg at Carlisle on 20 May, final at Wembley on 28 May

  • Carlisle finished fifth in League Two, Bradford were sixth

  1. Farewell for nowpublished at 21:04 British Summer Time 14 May 2023

    FT: Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    That's where we'll leave you for now.

    We've now rattled through all of the English Football League play-off first legs.

    The real business begins as the race to Wembley continues.

    Luton take on Sunderland on Tuesday hoping to fight back against the Black Cats, who lead led 2-1 after their first meeting at the Stadium of Light yesterday.

    And we've got plenty more action in the play-offs as the week continues.

    For now though, thank you for joining us.

  2. Postpublished at 21:02 British Summer Time 14 May 2023

    FT: Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    We've got a six-day wait until the League Two play-offs return.

    And both fourth-tier play-off semi-finals have a slender one-goal margin going into their respective second legs.

    Stockport will look to overturn Salford's 1-0 lead on home soil next Saturday, while Carlisle will hope to erode Bradford's advantage later that day.

  3. FULL-TIMEpublished at 20:58 British Summer Time 14 May 2023

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Bradford City fans applaudImage source, Rex Features

    Bradford see out a first leg win over Carlisle.

    The Bantams take a one-goal advantage into their League Two play-off semi-final second leg at Brunton Park.

    Jamie Walker's classy finish in the first half was all that separated these two sides.

    Carlisle, despite the result, gave Mark Hughes' side plenty to think about and will certainly fancy their chances having kept their deficit to just one goal at Valley Parade.

  4. Postpublished at 90+2 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Corey Whelan swiftly clears away as Bradford linger on the wing, threatening to put another ball into the box.

    Eventually Carlisle win a goal kick but if they're going to restore parity before the trip back to Cumbria, then they need a goal now.

  5. Postpublished at 90 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Five minutes added on.

    Can Bradford see out a first leg win or will Carlisle press for a dramatic late equaliser?

  6. Postpublished at 89 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Kristian Dennis is played through clear on goal after Taylor Charters puts in a defence-busting low delivery into the Bradford box.

    But the Carlisle man tries to lob the ball home from a tight angle and it goes out for a goal kick to the hosts.

  7. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 88 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Corey Whelan puts in a sensational tackle on Scott Banks as Bradford make a charge into the Carlisle box.

    The hosts win another corner which is sent in by Banks towards Sam Stubbs who heads down into the path of Emmanuel Osadebe who can't quite keep the ball in play.

    Meanwhile, Adam Clayton and Banks are withdrawn by the hosts. Matt Derbyshire and Matthew Platt come on.

  8. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 85 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Another change for Carlisle.

    Joel Senior is replaced by Jordan Gibson.

    Gibson previously made 29 appearances for Bradford City.

  9. Postpublished at 83 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Corey Whelan sends a low ball into the Bradford box as Carlisle keep up the pressure.

    It's diverted away for a throw-in by the hosts and the Cumbrians send the ball back into the box, with shouts of handball going up as Romoney Crichlow clears, but replays show he didn't handle the ball.

    The momentum is with Paul Simpson's Carlisle at the minute.

    Paul Simpson on the touchlineImage source, PA Media
  10. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Carlisle's Ben Barclay is forced into heading a loose ball away for a corner as he's pressured down the wing by Andy Cook.

    Richard Smallwood sends it into the box but it flies across a crowd and out for a goal kick.

  11. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    How have Carlisle not equalised?!

    Jack Armer whips in a sensational ball right towards the head of Ryan Edmondson who leaps at the far post.

    But his header goes over the bar. That's the Cumbrians' best chance to level things up since Bradford took the lead in the first half.

  12. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    20,575 in attendance at Valley Parade tonight.

    That's the highest-ever attendance for a fourth-tier play-off semi-final.

    Not bad.

  13. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Alex Gilliead tees up Andy Cook as Bradford enjoy a rare spell of possession in this second half.

    Cook's shot is well blocked away by Carlisle for a corner but it's punched away by keeper Tomas Holy.

  14. Postpublished at 70 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Corey Whelan heads over the bar for Carlisle following a corner.

    Are they going to force a late equaliser against Bradford or will the Bantams take the advantage going into the second leg?

    20 minutes left on the clock.

    Mark Hughes sits in the dugoutImage source, PA Media
  15. Postpublished at 69 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Carlisle come so, so close to equalising against Bradford.

    Ryan Edmondson beats Romoney Crichlow to the ball but it seemingly goes out of play before he continues.

    Play is allowed to carry on and he fires across the face of goal and then Jack Armer fires into the side netting.

    Meanwhile, Callum Guy comes off for the visitors with Taylor Charters replacing him.

  16. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 65 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Jamie Walker celebrates his goal for BradfordImage source, Rex Features

    Bradford make a change and, to be expected, Jamie Walker comes off for the hosts.

    The Bradford goalscorer makes way having taken on a few knocks over the course of the 65 minutes he played.

    Emmanuel Osadebe takes his place.

  17. Postpublished at 63 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    At the other end, Sam Stubbs puts a block in to concede a corner to Carlisle.

    It's whipped into the Bradford box and Corey Whelan looks to head into the bottom corner but Bantams keeper Harry Lewis is on hand to make the save.

  18. Postpublished at 62 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Bradford win a corner after Alex Gilliead's strike is deflected away by Carlisle.

    It's sent in but cleared into the path of Scott Banks who eventually wins a throw-in which is again sent in towards the box.

    Andy Cook does well to control the ball but can't get a shot away and, soon after, Adam Clayton fires high and wide of the mark.

  19. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 58 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    A double change for Carlisle and it's a double attacking change.

    Omari Patrick and Joe Garner are withdrawn. Ryan Edmondson and Kristian Dennis come on.

    Joe Garner reacts to missing a chanceImage source, Rex Features
  20. Postpublished at 56 mins

    Bradford 1-0 Carlisle

    Omari Patrick latches onto a pass inside the Bradford half as Carlisle continue their spell of pressure.

    He looks to sidefoot a low delivery into the box but it's well collected by Harry Lewis.