City hold Bradford to goalless draw

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For the first time in over 500 days, Exeter City fans were allowed to return to St James Park with covid restrictions easing.

Exeter City played an entertaining match with plenty of chances for goal, but they couldn't find the back of the net.

In the opening minutes of the match, Bradford City had an early run and had plenty of potential to reach the back of the net, but failed to deliver.

Despite Bradford's early chance, Exeter City was the stronger team in the opening - constantly pressing and eager to score. Josh Key managed to get a run with the ball. Jack Sparkes took possession and bottled it, kicking it wide.

Moments later, Matt Jay went to score, but the ball was lobbed out of the stadium. 

After Bradford's goal kick, they couldn't keep possession for very long. In the same minute, Matt Jay tried to score, but that deflected off of the Bradford defence and out for a corner ball.

Jack Sparkes' corner wasn't to be and the ball was knocked outfield.

Minutes later, a scuffle between both sides resulted in a Bradford player requiring treatment. This was Bradford's second free-kick in three minutes. 

Cameron Dawson worked wonders in Exeter's goal, having only been at the club for a week. Bradford's free-kick was inserted into the safe hands of Dawson.

Five minutes later, Timothee Deing made a dangerous tackle just outside of the 18-yard-box which resulted in him receiving a yellow card. The free-kick which was close to being a penalty didn't work out for Bradford City.

Josh Key was a player with plenty of chances but often wasted. In the 23 minute, he attempted to score from the byline, but it didn't work in his favour.

The score was 0-0 when the whistle was blown at half-time.

The second half was just as entertaining as the first. Within 7 minutes of being back on the pitch, Tim Deing was close to scoring, but it was saved by Bradford's goal keeper.

In the fifteenth minute of the second half, some would think that Oscar Threlkeld was an Exeter City fan, joining the other fans in the stand having come off the pitch at half-time with an injury,

Bradford had a quick turn-around. A corner for Bradford City meant Cameron Dawson worked his magic once again - punching the ball outfield.

There were two changes for Exeter City in the second half. Tim Deing came off for Harry Kite and Jevani Brown was replaced by Ben Seymour. 

In the closing minutes, Sam Nombe took on five Bradford players and passed it successfully. The run from that pass wasn't quite as successful.

Two-minutes before the final whistle, Matt Jay took a corner, but Nigel Atagana failed to put it in an open goal. In the same minute, Jack Sparkes whipped a corner in but he couldn't find Pierce Sweeney who was ready to put it in the back of the net.

In the second minute of extra-time, Exeter City had a last-chance free-kick, but Matt Jay smashed it into the Big Bank.

The game ended Exeter 0, Bradford 0.