Crawley Town scored twice in added time to claim three points at a stunned Valley Parade.
The Red Devils opened the scoring with Danilo Orsi before being pegged back in the second half. Andy Cook then scored from the penalty spot to give the Bantams the lead before Adam Campbell, Orsi with his second of the match and Klaidi Lolos deep in added time winning the game for Scott Lindsey's Reds.
As they had done in the last few games, Crawley started the contest on the front foot. Despite the pitch at the University of Bradford Stadium being very wet and boggy due to the intense rain over the last few weeks, the Reds were still playing some very attractive football.
The first chance of the game fell to Danilo Orsi in the third minute. Jack Roles, who was selected for a second successive league match after impressing against Swindon Town on New Year’s Day, found the striker with a cute flick over the top of the Bradford backline. Orsi had to rush a shot as he was under pressure but failed to make clean contact and dragged the shot wide.
This wasn’t to matter, though, as Orsi put the Red Devils ahead just a few moments later. Liam Kelly picked the ball up in the midfield before perfectly sliding in Nick Tsaroulla, who had made a brilliant run on the left flank. The wing-back produced the perfect cross to find Orsi, who nodded home from close range.
This seemed to awaken the home side, who had the fans at Valley Parade firmly on their backs with every misplaced pass. The home fans were celebrating for a brief moment when Andy Cook rifled the ball into the back of the net, but the linesman raised the offside flag a few seconds later.
Crawley had goalkeeper Corey Addai to thank for holding the lead into half-time as he made a brilliant save to deny Tyler Smith in the 40th minute. The ball falls so kindly to the feet of Smith inside the penalty area, who had only Addai to beat, but the Crawley goalkeeper spread himself well to block the effort and give the Reds the advantage at half time.
The home side began the second half much the better side, with constant pressure on the Reds backline, forcing Corey Addai into action on multiple occasions. The Reds goal was breached however on the 60th minute. A delicate ball in to the box did just enough to evade Addai in goal and nestled into the back of the net to give the Bantams the equaliser and the impetus in the game.
Klaidi Lolos was introduced for Jack Roles on 68 minutes as the Reds searched for a way back into the game. Despite their best efforts, the Reds found themselves a goal down on 78 minutes. Dion Conroy was caught on the ball inside the penalty area and fouled his man in trying to make amends. Andy Cook just about managed to sneak the ball into the back of the net from the spot - Addai made a good low save to deny the prolific marksman, however the ball proceeded to agonisingly spin into the net to give the home side the lead, much to the delight of the sixteen thousand strong home support.
The Reds remained well drilled and spirited however and introduced Harry Forster in place of Ronan Darcy on 81 minutes. The substitute was involved straight away. Having been played in by Lolos, the forward sent a wicked cross across the City box that was only half cleared and allowed Adam Campbell to steer home on 85 minutes.
You may have been forgiven for thinking the Reds would have attempted to 'shut up shop' and take a point back to West Sussex, however this wasn’t the case, with the referee adding on 8 minutes of added time in the process.
On 96 minutes, good play from the Reds midfield saw the ball reach Tsaroulla inside the Bradford penalty box. Twisting and turning, the full back was brought down for a Reds penalty of which Danilo Orsi cooly dispatched to send the travelling 102 into Red delirium.
As Bradford searched for a late equaliser the Reds were then clinical on the break to make sure of the points.
Liam Kelly did superb to find Lolos on the break, with the Reds fan favourite arrowing a deflected effort into the roof of the net to toast a memorable win for Lindsey's Red Devils who next host Salford City at the Broadfield Stadium next Saturday 14th January.
REDS XI: Addai, Darcy (Forster 81'), Williams, Conroy, Maguire, Tsaroulla, Wright, Kelly, Roles (Lolos 68'), Campbell, Orsi
Attendance: 16,699 (102 away)
