BRADFORD City did not quite manage The Taming of the Shrew(s) on their visit to Shropshire, but it was still a case of All’s Well That Ends Well, as they earned themselves a hard-fought FA Cup First Round Replay.

The clash at Montgomery Waters Meadow finished 1-1, with Aramide Oteh’s composed early strike quickly cancelled out when Josh Laurent fired home from close range.

There were plenty more chances for both sides, and although the hosts probably looked most likely to grab a winner, it was City centre-back Ben Richards-Everton who came closest when his late header hit the post.

Read more: Gary Bowyer's reaction to City's 1-1 draw

The Bantams almost scored in the opening minute. The returning Dylan Connolly whipped in a great cross from the left and captain James Vaughan just failed to get a touch.

The ball still looked as if it would sneak in at the far post though, and 38-year-old Shrews keeper Joe Murphy was forced to plunge to his left to make the save.

After about 10 minutes, a deep Shrewsbury corner was knocked back into the centre, but City eventually hacked clear after a scramble.

Laurent was the Shrews’ biggest attacking threat, and when he intercepted a stray pass in midfield, his driving run was only ended by a cynical Adam Henley foul.

Henley was booked, before fellow defender, Shrewsbury’s Aaron Pierre, suffered an even bigger setback a few minutes later.

Vaughan won the flick on from a long ball but it was Pierre’s ball to lose. Under little pressure, his headed backpass had nowhere near enough purchase on it.

That let Oteh in and he flicked the ball neatly over the onrushing Murphy before slamming it into an empty net to put the Bantams in front.

That was the on-loan QPR man’s third goal in five games, but he did not have long to celebrate it, as the hosts quickly drew level.

Shaun Whalley put in a deep cross and Scott Golbourne headed back across goal for Laurent to slam the ball into the roof of the net.

That goal saw City come under the cosh, as Shrewsbury fashioned a few good chances in a 10-minute spell.

Laurent almost added a second immediately. After a free kick was played short, he bent a shot inches wide via a deflection.

Then, Sean Goss swung in a free kick that dropped virtually in front of Richard O’Donnell in the Bantams goal without anyone getting a touch.

The ball was scrambled clear in a panic and Goss was at it again when O’Donnell plunged to his right to save the midfielder’s low shot.

But it was City who had the last big chance before the break. Connor Wood put in a hanging cross from the left and Murphy and the defender got in each other’s way.

The ball dropped to Vaughan, who swung at it, but he failed to make contact with the goal at his mercy, allowing the Shrews to hack it away.

The hosts began the second half strongly, finding plenty of joy down the right.

Firstly, Donald Love’s low ball saw Jason Cummings just fail to make a meaningful connection, before the former Hibs striker then dummied a ball on the penalty spot when it looked easier to shoot.

Another low ball in forced Henley into a great sliding clearance before Shrewsbury’s Ethan Ebanks-Landell went into the book for cleaning out Connolly.

Five minutes later, City should have gone in front. Oteh headed the ball on, before Vaughan’s flick sent Connolly through one on one.

His final touch was too heavy, but he still forced a good save out of Murphy.

Following that move, Vaughan pulled up with an ankle injury, which led Bowyer to make a double substitution, as Vaughan and winger Zeli Ismail were replaced by Kelvin Mellor and Jermaine Anderson respectively.

That led Bowyer to throw Oteh, who had been playing in an unfamiliar number 10 role, up front alongside Connolly, with Mellor joining Henley, Anthony O’Connor, Richards-Everton and Wood as part of a back five.

That formation change gave Wood licence to roam down the left. He soon won a corner, and swung it in himself.

Murphy flapped, Hope Akpan retrieved, but under pressure, Connolly could only fire over from about 10 yards out.

Barely a minute later, Wood fired in a great cross but an unmarked Anderson got it all wrong and spooned a good chance wide.

Henley then flew in on Norburn, a risky move given his yellow card, but referee Sam Purkiss was lenient, administering him with nothing more than a talking to.

The game was end to end now, and moments after Oteh failed to connect properly with a good headed chance, Shrewsbury substitute Fejiri Okenabirhie fired over from a pull back.

With 10 minutes left, Wood’s corner was cleared straight back to him, and his ball in was met at the back post by Richards-Everton, whose header hit the outside of the post.

Richards-Everton was soon in the thick of the action at the other end.

Pierre, who had just been booked for a foul on Oteh, robbed Anderson and rampaged away downfield. He fed Whalley, who was floored in the area by the visitors’ centre-back.

He got the ball but looked to have taken a good chunk of his man too. The referee sided with Richards-Everton and City, turning down animated penalty claims from the hosts.

The Shrews then nearly went in front, as two substitutes combined. Ryan Giles’ cross was flicked on, and fellow sub, the evergreen Dave Edwards, just couldn’t stretch far enough to convert the chance.

With minutes left, Paudie O’Connor came on for Connolly, with the big defender immediately taking his place up front.

Crossing was the order of the day now, and after Akpan found Wood, the wing-back played in another fine ball.

Mellor came steaming in at the back stick, but unfortunately, he failed to sort his feet out and the chance disappeared.

Five minutes were added, and at the last, O’Donnell spilled a low cross in from the right.

Fortunately, he was able to grab the ball, and the replay, as City celebrated a job well done against League One opposition.

There was obvious concern over Vaughan’s injury, with Bowyer admitting after the match that he was unsure of its severity.

Harry Pritchard should quickly return from illness though, while Shay McCartan and Jake Reeves, the latter making his first appearance in a matchday squad for almost two years on Saturday, could both play a part against Rochdale in Tuesday’s Leasing.com clash.

As for the following Tuesday, the Shrews head to Valley Parade for the First Round Replay, where City will hope this Winter’s Tale has a happy ending.