Huddersfield Town 2 Bradford City 2

Bradford win 4-3 on penalties

City’s first visit to the Galpharm for three years was sponsored by a private detective agency.

But even Hercule Poirot would have struggled to deduce how last night was going to pan out.

All the evidence pointed to a comfortable Huddersfield win against a side with six changes from Saturday. Instead, Phil Parkinson’s battlers proved spot-kick kings once again to clinch a thrilling derby success.

It was that sort of night – an own goal, an equaliser by a player who snubbed City in the summer, more leads thrown away, more drama.

And a penalty shoot-out decider in City’s favour, which they are pretty good at in the JPT. Sheffield Wednesday were disposed of in the same manner in the last round.

Michael Flynn, the regular taker, blazed the first over but the rest held their nerve – with Nialle Rodney completing the fairy tale with the winner.

Saltaire-born winger Danny Ward signalled Huddersfield’s intent with two shots in the first four minutes.

By then, Ross Hannah had already received touchline treatment for a whack in the chops from Hudders-field skipper Peter Clarke.

And he went off after only seven minutes nursing a badly swollen knee from the challenge. So Rodney, back from injury himself, got his first outing since the change of boss.

City’s starting line-up showed six changes from Saturday. Only Town old boy Flynn remained from the midfield but he had given up the captain’s armband to the recalled Guy Branston.

Huddersfield did most of the attacking, as you’d expect. Matt Duke saved low down from Alan Lee and pushed away a well-struck effort from Lee Novak.

But the closest chance came at the other end, where Mark Stewart – desperate to make his mark – stretched Nick Colgan with a header from Flynn’s cross. A bit more power and the keeper would have been struggling.

City were getting men behind the ball to frustrate their hosts, although Duke looked uncomfortable with Novak’s swerving shot.

The defensive discipline nearly let them down five minutes before the break. Suddenly, Anton Robinson found Ward free in the box but the winger fired high into the packed away end behind Duke’s goal.

Stewart then threatened again on the counter, his shot looping off Clarke to land on top of the net.

Duke blocked from Ward but a poor clearance kept City under the cosh. Novak flicked home from Lee’s cross but his celebrations were cut off by the offside flag – to the delight of the City stand.

Huddersfield were knocking on the door and the second half opened in similar fashion.

They should have scored four minutes in but Lee and Ward got in each other’s way before the centre forward’s stab at goal was touched wide by Duke.

But it was City who broke the deadlock after 55 minutes – with some help. Antony Kay joined Clarke, Rodney and Liam Moore in the book for upending Luke O’Brien level with the edge of the box. The sub then became uber-villain for the home side when he headed the resulting free-kick from Chris Mitchell into his own net.

As the jubilant 2,500 travelling fans chanted about Wembley, Huddersfield pushed for an immediate response. Ward drove over again and Flynn got a crucial deflection to deny Lee from close range.

But the lead survived only seven minutes. Branston flattened Clarke from a corner and the penalty was slotted home by Tommy Miller – the midfielder Peter Jackson thought he had signed.

City, though, came straight back at them, forcing a corner, and Luke Oliver powered home Robbie Threlfall’s set-piece.

It had become an electric cup tie, with the visitors rising to the occasion. But Huddersfield bounced off the ropes for a second time as Clarke volleyed in after 70 minutes.

It was end-to-end and City were a whisker away from a third goal. Stewart’s cross picked out two in the six-yard box but Andrew Davies didn’t get enough on it and Jack Hunt cleared from just in front of the goal-line.

That set the scene for yet another penalty drama. And we all know how they finish up with City these days...

HUDDERSFIELD: Colgan 6, Hunt 6, Clarke 7, Cooper 6 (Kay 46 minutes, 5), Naysmith 6 (Roberts 70 minutes), McDermott 7, Gobern 6 (Miller 31 minutes, 6), Robinson 6, Ward 8, Novak 6, Lee 6. Subs (not used): Roberts, Arfield, Bennett.

CITY: Duke 6, Moore 7, Branston 7, Oliver 8, Threlfall 7, Compton 6 (Reid 74 minutes), Mitchell 6 (Davies 67 minutes), Flynn 7, O’Brien 6, Hannah n/a (Rodney 8 minutes, 7), Stewart 6. Subs (not used): Bryan, McLaughlin.

REFEREE: Paul Tierney.

ATTENDANCE: 10,489.