Bradford City 2, Bolton Wanderers 2; Richard Sutcliffe at Valley Parade.
Bradford City's £2.3 million investment in their new strike-force paid dividends to earn Paul Jewell's side their first point of the season in a hugely entertaining clash.
Both Isaiah Rankin and Lee Mills opened their scoring accounts in the Nationwide League to justify the considerable outlay made by Jewell in recent weeks.
City had twice been behind against a Bolton side who illustrated just why they are one of the favourites for promotion.
First, Arnar Gunnlaugsson had opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a low drive only for Rankin to bring City level just before the break.
Then, Nathan Blake produced a textbook header on the hour mark which looked to have won the game for Colin Todd's side.
However Mills popped up with just two minutes remaining to earn City a point which their approach play had just about warranted.
The last gasp equaliser also maintained the striker's impressive strike-rate in front of the Sky Television cameras. Mills scored on his debut for both Wolves and Derby live on television - with his goal for the Rams ironically coming against Bolton - while he has also scored on television for Port Vale against West Brom and Oldham.
So it should have been no surprise when Mills jumped high to nod Peter Beagrie's inviting corner past Jussi Jaaskelainen to earn the Bantams' first point.
In truth though, City appeared to be heading for their third successive league defeat of the season despite dictating play in the opening stages of both halves.
The Bantams began well with their quick passing causing Bolton problems. Gareth Whalley was at the heart of most of this attacking play and with Peter Beagrie and Jamie Lawrence also probing, City were certainly on top in the opening quarter of an hour.
However they could not turn this territorial dominance into goals and against a side as good as Bolton, it can leave a team liable to the ultimate suckerpunch.
And that is just what happened after 19 minutes when a fine pass from Neil Cox found the hugely impressive Gunnlaugsson in an alarming amount of space.
He turned quickly and despite Darren Moore trying to close him down, the midfielder drilled a low shot into the net.
Buoyed by this opener, Bolton started to take control with their strike-force of Nathan Blake and Dean Holdsworth pulling the City defence all over.
The former Wimbledon striker in particular used all his experience to find space out wide and, with Bolton's crisp passing game to the fore, it soon became clear that City would need something special to get back on level terms.
And that was just what Rankin - much more subdued than in his first two games for City - provided to illustrate just why Jewell was willing to invest so much money in bringing the youngster to Valley Parade.
Beagrie floated a long ball forward in the 42nd minute and after dispossessing Bergsson, Rankin steadied himself and fired a shot into then net.
The goal was a massive morale booster for City and in the first 15 minutes of the second half they again took control.
Jamie Lawrence continued to look dangerous down the right and Rankin could have put City ahead in the 54th minute but his close range shot went wide.
But, just as in the first half, a goal from Bolton against the run of play transformed the game. After scoring the first goal, Gunnlaugsson turned provider with an inviting cross for Blake, who rose between Darren Moore and Andy O'Brien before thundering his header past Walsh.
The goal seemed to crush City and it wasn't until Lawrence was moved into midfield with the introduction of Ashley Westwood that an equaliser looked a possibility.
And it was a shot from Lawrence which was deflected behind to give City the corner from which Mills grabbed his equaliser.
The big striker's late equaliser was, on the balance of play, well deserved and this point should leave the Bantams travelling to Crewe next Friday full of confidence that they can avenge their 5-0 defeat at Gresty Road in April.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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