City 4, Bristol Rovers 1

So Bradford City’s play-off odyssey goes on in increasingly shipshape and Bristol fashion.

John Ward’s Pirates came aboard with the purpose of scuttling the ship last night but City navigated potentially choppy waters to journey three points nearer the promised land of promotion.

Captain Hook? More like Captain Pugwash as League Two’s form team were forced to walk the plank by the irrepressible hosts.

A third straight win – the first time they had done that since September – restored the Bantams to the top seven after a three-month absence.

Now the scenario changes for the final four games. It’s all about staying in there or even continuing upwards; that final automatic slot is not completely out of reach.

If this form is anything to go by, City are the hottest contenders of the bunch. The teams immediately above them will be looking nervously over their shoulders – and with good reason.

Phil Parkinson had the luxury of being able to name the same side that had beaten Torquay and Northampton to keep City snapping at the heels of the pack.

Confidence was high – and that was evident in an explosive start which saw Nahki Wells cut in from the right to smack the Rovers bar with the game only 17 seconds old.

The crowd roared in anticipation and did not have to wait much longer for a breakthrough. Garry Thompson brushed off left back Lee Brown to pick out Wells, who claimed his 20th goal of the season with a simple header.

A goal up after six minutes, City went hunting more and Thompson hooked wide from a low cross by Kyel Reid.

For Rovers, things went from bad to worse as Danny Woodards appeared to twist his knee and had to be stretchered off after a lengthy stoppage.

Oliver Clarke replaced him – and almost had an equaliser with his first involvement. The substitute nicked the ball away from Rory McArdle to bear down menacingly on goal but Jon McLaughlin made a crucial block with his legs.

City bounced straight back up the other end as Wells forced a save from Steve Mildenhall after James Hanson nodded down from Reid. The corner was cleared to the edge of the box where Ricky Ravenhill was tripped by Fabian Broghammer as he shaped to shoot.

Referee Tony Harrington had no doubts about the penalty – and nor did Wells as he smashed the spot-kick into the bottom corner.

Valley Parade was bouncing but once again it needed the reflexes of McLaughlin to keep Rovers at bay.

Tom Hitchcock looked certain to score with a point-blank downward header from Broghammer’s cross. But McLaughlin spread himself more in hope than expectation on his line and somehow managed to prevent the ball going in before City mopped up the ensuing scramble.

It was a fantastic save but also a warning about the visitors’ “devil may care” attacking attitude. It was breathless entertainment and a welcome antidote to the anti-football that Northampton had offered on Saturday.

Rovers were certainly capable of making a game of it and, given their fantastic form since the turn of the year, City could not risk taking their foot off the pedal.

The imposing Ryan Brunt looked to turn Andrew Davies just outside the box but McArdle was alert to any danger and quickly whisked the ball off his toes.

McArdle’s fluffed clearance in the first minute of added time allowed Brunt to chance his arm with a hugely ambitious half-volley but it was more of a threat to the bottom tier of the Kop than McLaughlin’s goal.

And there was still time for City to sign off an emphatic first half with a third goal. Reid was flattened by Michael Smith ten yards inside the Rovers half, Gary Jones floated the free-kick into the goalmouth and Davies took advantage of Mildenhall’s hesitancy to glance it gently into the corner.

Jones ran towards the fans fist-pumping the air – City’s joy was universal after their most prolific first half since Wimbledon way back in August. And all this from a side who never usually score before they turn round...

Rovers needed an early lifeline for any hopes of a comeback and they got it within five minutes of the restart.

McArdle missed his clearance as he attempted to volley clear and Hitchcock raced clear before beating McLaughlin via the inside of the post. The keeper reacted furiously at seeing City breached in such a careless manner.

The goal also ended a run of nine successive league clean sheets for the Bantams on Tuesdays.

Rovers, having won four of their last five games, threw men upfield in an increasingly gung-ho fashion as their travelling fans made themselves heard at last.

But their open approach backfired as City launched a clinical counter-attack to restore their three-goal cushion in the 58th minute.

Smith got in a mess on halfway and Wells picked up the loose ball to work it on for Thompson. His first touch took him clear of two defenders and the finish gave Mildenhall no chance.

Nerves suitably soothed, the game returned to its previous pattern with City stroking the ball about with confidence.

It is nearly a year to the day since Wells notched his first professional hat-trick and he was not far off marking the milestone with another. Dancing his way across the Rovers penalty area, he was only thwarted by a fine tip wide from Mildenhall.

Parkinson clearly thought the game was won as Jones was given a breather for the final 15 minutes. How City’s all-action skipper deserved the applause that rang round the stadium as he made way for Nathan Doyle.

The noise was just as loud as Thompson then Wells followed. But City were still hungry for more as Ravenhill warmed Mildenhall’s hands from 25 yards before the keeper then took one in the face to deny Reid.

A great night all-round for the Bantams. Now full steam ahead for Chesterfield on Saturday.

Attendance: 10,621