It was a goal worthy of winning any game.

Peter Beagrie, who at one stage last season seemed destined never to score for Bradford City, produced the sort of strike which must be among the contenders for any Goal of the Season competition.

Beagrie's third goal of the season came with the scores level at 1-1 after the skilful winger had received the ball deep inside his own half.

He raced forward before superbly cutting inside Town's Richard Lucas and unleashing a shot which dipped and swerved in the air as it headed towards the Halifax goal.

City keeper Gary Walsh revealed after the game that Beagrie produces so much swerve on the ball in training that it makes getting behind one of his efforts almost impossible.

And that was just what happened last night with Lee Martin unable to read the flight of the ball as it flew into the net.

Beagrie's wonder strike means City go into next week's second leg full of confidence of progressing to the third round after a performance which encapsulated most of the good and bad points of the Bantams' season.

Going forward, City carved open their Third Division neighbours several times with some free-flowing football in which Robbie Blake, Beagrie and Gareth Whalley were all dangerous.

City's first strike again owed a huge debt to Beagrie. The winger is often criticised by the Bantams supporters for over elaborating on the ball but he showed the value of choosing the right moment to send over a cross in the 33rd minute.

Instead of launching the first time ball the Town defence were expecting, Beagrie rolled a pass to Wayne Jacobs and he returned the ball to his team-mate.

While this was going on, the Town defence appeared to relax to leave Darren Moore unmarked and Beagrie picked the big man out with a fine ball and he powered a header into the net.

After weathering a lively Town spell midway through the opening 45 minutes, it was the perfect riposte from City and they could have easily gone in further ahead at the break.

However at the back, a lot of the old problems were apparent with City often struggling to cope with Town's fluent passing game along the floor.

And if Gary Walsh had not been in such impressive form then the Bantams could have been forced to settle for a draw at best.

The City keeper was struggling with an ankle injury throughout the night but that did not prevent him pulling off five top class saves.

Walsh's best effort came in the 48th minute when the Shaymen's player-manager Keiron O'Regan curled a superb free kick over the defensive wall and the ball seemed destined for the net.

Walsh moved quickly across his goal and flung himself towards the top corner of his goal to flick the ball behind for a corner.

However the goalkeeper could do nothing about Dave Hanson's 58th minute equaliser after the City defence had failed to deal with a good quality cross from the right.

When the Shaymen grabbed their equaliser it appeared that the Bantams would have to settle for a draw, but then Beagrie took a hand and City must go into next week's return leg full of confidence.

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