Special goal gives Bradford City fans something to talk about (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

From Radford to Bradford as super-sub Nahki Wells lights up tie with strike to rival best in FA Cup history

7:00am Monday 14th November 2011 in Bantams By Simon Parker

City 1, Rochdale 0

Nahki Wells was scared to switch on his mobile after the game because of the “million” messages he was expecting from back home in Bermuda.

It seems the whole island wanted to bask in the glow of a strike that has surely already set the bar well out of reach as the best FA Cup goal of this season – and quite a few others.

If there is any justice, his Ronnie Radfordesque thunderbolt will be repeated on a loop of cup highlights from now until Wembley.

And a young unknown goalkeeper with a very sore nose can claim his small part in Wells’ new-found fame after finding himself the unwitting target practice.

For Wells, thumping screamers into the net is a common occurrence on the training pitch – as a trialist from Cork found to his cost on Friday.

The FA Cup is special. I still get a tingle down my spine that’s never going to change. Then you see a goal like that. I just hope it gets the coverage it deserves

Steve Parkin

Assistant boss Steve Parkin explained: “The young lad was standing behind the goal on Friday when Nahki let rip.

“His shot hit the back of the net that hard, the keeper wasn’t able to get his hands up in time and it hit him right in the face.

“We all had a chuckle after making sure the lad was all right. But that’s the kind of pace Nahki can generate when he strikes the ball. He can do it with either foot and with very little backlift.”

Parkin has been around football a long time and you sense it takes a lot for him to get carried away.

But he was like a kid at Christmas on the touchline after a winner that would have graced the final, let alone the opening round.

Parkin said: “The FA Cup is special. I still get a tingle down my spine that’s never going to change. Then you see a goal like that. I just hope it gets the coverage it deserves.”

That should be guaranteed. Certainly if it had come from the gilded boots of a striker at Man United, Chelsea or Arsenal, it would become as familiar as the “would you look at that” commentary that launched John Motson’s career thanks to Radford at Hereford many moons ago.

At least Wells can dine out on it in Bermuda – and it’s certainly not a bad start in his dream to one day usurp Shaun Goater as the country’s most legendary player.

The only shame was that there weren’t more City fans there to savour the spectacular climax to a week that has restored much-needed morale with two cup triumphs.

Take out the noisy and disgruntled Rochdale contingent and the number of home punters did not even break 3,000. But those who paid their way have the bragging rights with a very special “I was there” moment.

For the first half at least, the prospect of a City victory seemed fairly remote.

Phil Parkinson, wary of his side being passed to death, set up in cautious mode with Ross Hannah as the lone striker. Jamie Devitt was his foil, flitting around the midfield, but for all the neat touches and impressive control he tended to drift too deep to make a real impact.

It meant that for 45 minutes Rochdale looked the home side with most of the ball and the threat. The fact that they could make no inroads was down to a stout defence, built around Luke Oliver and Steve Williams, and the sure-handed goalkeeping of Jon McLaughlin.

What a difference a week has made for him. Suddenly it’s Matt Duke with it all to do to force his way back into contention as McLaughlin has surely secured the position for the near future.

Proving that Bramall Lane was no adrenaline-fuelled one off, McLaughlin was confident in everything he did and kept Rochdale at bay with a handful of crucial saves.

The pick of those came midway through the second half when he first foiled Harry Bunn from point-blank range before clambering up to get across his goal in time to tip away a curler from Ashley Grimes.

With Williams in calm and confident mode and Oliver his usual solid self, the prospect of Grimes scoring against the club he snubbed at the 11th hour in the summer never materialised.

Nor Gary Jones, the midfield general that Peter Jackson had set his heart on. The Rochdale skipper was a commanding and robust presence down the middle but McLaughlin matched his best effort with a thin fingertip around the post.

By the break, City had been limited to one ambitious drive from Hannah. But most importantly, they had kept the visitors at bay.

The home tempo noticeably stepped up for the second half, though Jack Compton wasted a storming run with a lead-footed cross.

Thoughts began to turn to a possibly replay, something that City did not want with the JP Trophy trip to Oldham suddenly a key addition to their calendar.

So Phil Parkinson made his move with 25 minutes left, a double switch bringing on Wells and James Hanson and giving Rochdale the conundrum of fighting height and pace.

The effect on City was immediate with three near-misses in as many minutes.

Oliver got on the end of Chris Mitchell’s corner but Tom Kennedy hacked off the line. Then Wells met Compton’s cross with a fierce volley which was foiled by the reflexes of experienced goalkeeper David Lucas.

But when Hanson showed his strength to set up Mitchell for a shot which struck Stephen Jordan in front of goal, it looked like there was no way through.

McLaughlin’s double heroics preserved the stalemate at the other end but City had the attacking bit between their teeth.

Hanson looked sharper for the kick up the backside of being left on the bench. Wells showed the urgency of someone keen to make every minute count.

He whisked another shot across goal before finally finding his sights and his range with six minutes left. It was well worth the wait.

Seizing the loose ball five yards inside his own half, the Bermudian had only one thing on his mind. Team-mates left and right screamed for the pass but Wells had seen the opportunity.

The goal was still more than 30 yards away when he unloaded a shot that flew and then dipped like a firework. Lucas barely had time to blink as the ball crashed past him against the right-hand stanchion.

City’s recent record in the FA Cup is dismal. Memorable moments have been few and far between.

So make the most of this one. Watch it, Sky-plus it, then watch it again. Wells scored one of THE great goals. It was a privilege to be there.

Attendance: 3,579