Ashley Ward scored twice in the last eight minutes as City staged a magnificent fightback to earn a 3-3 draw at Barnsley this afternoon.

Lee Sharpe had given the Bantams a spectacular lead but Barnsley stormed back through Mike Sheron (2) and a Chris Lumsdon penalty.

But Ward netted two late goals, both set up by Sharpe, to frustrate his old club and continue the City revival under Nicky Law.

Nicky Law backed up his words that reputations would count for nothing by naming the bulk of the side that came from behind to beat Portsmouth 3-1.

Law, a former Barnsley player, made only one change with Ashley Ward, another Oakwell old boy, preferred to Andy Tod at centre-forward.

Stuart McCall was also back from a one-game ban but he had to be content with a place on the bench as Claus Jorgensen continued in midfield.

City again lined up with a three-man attack but the first threat came from Barnsley where Chris Lumsdon's through ball was just beyond the outstretched head of Mike Sheron in the second minute. Then Lewis Emanuel showed good tenacity to see off the threat of right-winger Kevin Donovan.

Lumsdon went into the book after five minutes for a needless foul on Ward midway inside the Barnsley half. Ref Barry Knight advanced the ball a further ten yards but Eoin Jess slipped as he tooked the free-kick and it sailed into the Van damme Stand.

Chris Morgan replied with an ambitious 30-yarder straight to Carl Muggleton before Jorgensen had to be watchful to shepherd away a useful cross from Sheron beyond the far post.

It was bitty stuff with the home fans growing frustrated by the number of free-kicks City were being given while the official waved away a strong challenge by Ward on Gary Jones

After 16 minutes Darren Barnard and Bruce Dyer tried to open up City on the left and when the ball broke just outside the penalty area, Jones thumped it wide.

Andy Myers gave away another free-kick in a far more threatening position in the 21st minute. The shot was in Barnard country, 25 yards out, but the Welsh international floated the left-footer wide.

There was activity on the City bench where McCall stripped ready for action. Locke came off and looked in some discomfort. His first action was to defend the game's first corner. Barnard took it for Barnsley but it brushed off the head of Morgan wide.

McCall was involved at the other end and tried a shot from the edge of the box. He was blocked by a fierce tackle by Jones but it came loose to SHARPE who lashed a 25-yard shot over Kevin Miller and into the roof of Barnsley's net. It was Sharpe's second goal in successive games and reinforced his current rich run of form. The sizeable away following greeted it with a chant of "Nicky Law's Bradford Army".

Within two minutes, though, Dyer was trying to weave his way through City bodies in the away penalty area and it needed a firm block by Stephen Caldwell before Jones dragged the loose ball off target.

Barnsley should have been level in the 32nd minute when Lumsdon's cross from the right found an unmarked Sheron. Barnard was probably better placed behind him but Sheron took it himself and glanced it wide.

Law was still concerned about the space Barnsley were finding outside the City penalty area and Sheron was given the room to curl another effort off target and then missing again under good pressure from Myers.

Five minutes before the break there was no escape. Caldwell fouled Jones as the midfielder burst through the midfield and although Muggleton dived the right way he was beaten to his right by a well-struck penalty from LUMSDON.

That brought the home crowd to life and City were grateful to see an offside flag as Lumsdon put Dyer behind the defence straight afterwards.

Barnard and Sheron swapped passes to launch another attack which Jorgensen snuffed out at the expense of a corner. And from it Barnsley stole into the lead.

Barnard's kick was headed out by Jess to Donovan whose first-time volley flew low into the goalmouth where it was deflected past Muggleton by SHERON.

City were suddenly tottering as their early confidence took a bashing from the double blast and the defence were working over-time to prevent a third before the break.

HT: Barnsley 2 City 1

Grant began the second half on the right and it was from that side that City created the first half-chance as Jorgensen launched an up and under which was well claimed by Miller above Ward's head.

Ward, just back from suspension, collected his sixth yellow card of the season for a challenge on Morgan in the 49th minute. And Sharpe was penalised for fouling Dyer to present Barnsley with a free-kick 20 yards from goal.

Grant, now back on the left, overhead-kicked into the Barnsley six-yard box but it provided a comfortable catch for Miller. Then Jess ran strongly before finding Sharpe supporting on the left wing but his cross was cleared.

City were coming to life with Jess starting to get on the ball. They won their second corner after 57 minutes but Miller punched away Sharpe's kick through a crowd of players.

But City's problems increased on the hour as Barnsley grabbed their third. Dyer's persistence created it although he appeared to handle as he controlled Miller's clearance, certainly McCall thought so. Dyer fell to the ground but still managed to shovel a pass through to SHERON who slipped it underneath Muggleton.

City's frustration was evident as Myers went into the book for a shove on Dyer from behind. The official also called over Ward and Morgan as their personal battle continued to rumble.

Law made a second change with 25 minutes left as Jess came off for Jamie Lawrence, making his first appearance since September 29.

Dyer showed great control to spin on the angle of the City penalty area and fire a yard wide as Barnsley continued to roar forward.

And he should have got number four in the 72nd minute when he was in again on the left. But Dyer delayed his shot, allowing Caldwell to get back.

City made their final change two minutes later as Grant made way for Tod.

But with eight minute to go, City grabbed a lifeline when Sharpe got past David Mulligan and Lumsdon to the left byline before firing in a low cross which WARD nicked past Miller.

And with two minutes to go, City were off the floor and level. Barnsley survived a corner but Sheron gave away possession on halfway where Sharpe hoisted it back into the danger zone. WARD and Miller both went for it and the striker got the crucial touch to put it in the net.