Halifax 5 Chorley 0

THE chant at The Shay began early: Bring on the Bradford.

The home fans were determined to savour the moment last night as they booked an FA Cup first-round derby clash with the Bantams with consummate ease.

Now they can look forward to City’s first visit since September 1998 – and a particularly local affair that should surely draw a national audience on TV.

You sense there is just as much excitement at this end after five years in a row when the Bantams have been drawn against teams from the same division.

After a bright opening, Chorley’s challenge died when former Halifax hero James Dean planted an off-the-ball elbow on Simon Ainge – one of the Shaymen’s large Bantam connection.

Minus their spiky centre-forward after 18 minutes, the Conference North visitors looked no more than a rabble without a cause.

Halifax had just broken the deadlock when keeper Danijel Nizic found a Scott McManus drive too hot to handle and former Wales youth international Richard Peniket converted the rebound.

The Shaymen bossed the rest of the first half but had to wait until stoppage time for the insurance of a second goal. It was a scrappy affair which Boden finished from close range after Ainge and Adam Smith had both played a part.

And the contest was done and dusted within three minutes of the restart. Half-time sub Ross Dyer produced a neat cut-back from the byline and Smith drove through the legs of Nizic.

The winger helped himself to a second just after the hour with a thundering finish from the edge of the box before Peniket’s fine individual finish deep in stoppage time rounded things off as the crowd of 1,681 enjoyed their party. You suspect there will be a lot more watching the next round.