Attack of the 'Ginger Ninja' as his killer strike sees Bantams claim first win in eight matches

In a week when the world remembered JFK, it was another Kennedy who presided over this long overdue victory.

The global headlines may have been dominated by the 50th anniversary of John F Kennedy’s assassination. But it was JBK that delivered the parting shot to steal the limelight for City.

Jason Brian Kennedy, to give him his full name, or the “Ginger Ninja” according to good pal Gary Jones, emerged from the Valley Parade shadows to breathe fresh life into the play-off campaign.

His surprise selection had been no conspiracy, simply the choice of Phil Parkinson to rattle things around a bit in an engine room that had been looking a little jaded of late.

And there was no grassy knoll from where he delivered his deadly finish in the 84th minute – just an unguarded six-yard box after a lung-busting burst from one half to the other.

For Kennedy, it was a first vindication to his boss that he had been worth persisting with after an original move collapsed in the final hours of the January transfer window.

His minimal contribution since finally arriving in the summer had hardly presented the strongest case. So given the opportunity here – and Nathan Doyle leaves big boots to fill – he eagerly grasped it with both hands.

His alertness to pop up in the danger zone on the off chance was proof of the goal-scoring reputation that accompanied Kennedy across the Pennines. He scored seven for Rochdale last season.

It was also the sort of midfielder’s finish which has been missing from City’s armoury. Ironically the last player of that ilk in these parts, David Syers, was notching two at the same time from similarly close range for Scunthorpe.

Kennedy’s game-winning contribution should have also heartened the rest of the fringe players who have spent the first few months of the campaign on the outside looking in.

Up to Saturday, none of the recruits since promotion have really shoved their credentials in front of the supporters.

“That’s only because they haven’t had many chances,” Parkinson pointed out. “But for someone to come in the team, be the hero and get the goal was so important for the whole squad.

“They are all thinking ‘what do I do to get in?’ That sort of contribution is what we want.

“Jason is a very good player and doesn’t lack confidence. I just wanted his extra energy in there.

“He had a difficult first ten minutes but the speed of the surface caught a few of the boys out. But after that, I felt he grew into the game and was magnificent – he was our best player.”

And make no mistake, this was a huge win for the Bantams. It has been a long time since October 5 when they last pocketed three points at Walsall.

The sheen from that glossy start to League One life had started to dull as reality kicked in. The doom and gloomers, so noticeable by their absence since the middle of March, were beginning to crawl back out of their holes.

Defeat on Saturday would have dropped them into mid-table. Hardly a critical scenario but given their lofty bearing among the early pace-setters, a reminder of how unforgiving this division can be.

Instead, they are back on the right side of the play-off line with a home game against struggling Notts County tomorrow offering a further chance to build momentum.

Stadium:mk is one of the best arenas at this level, even if the atmosphere comes across a bit happy-clappy. Everything still feels too new for a club barely over a decade old.

They are never going to win any popularity contests given the controversial nature of their birth. The fans nicked the Millwall anthem “no-one likes us” to acknowledge that.

An enthusiastic chorus of “MK Army” hardly registers on the same spine-shivering scale as the guttural growl when the Den get going but this remains one of League One’s most difficult stop-offs.

The Dons had lost only once at home in eight before the weekend. They move the ball quickly and slickly – Steven Pressley would no doubt approve – and possess two of the hottest prospects in the lower leagues.

Technically as a Chelsea player, Patrick Bamford is above all this anyway. The on-loan striker had made his England under-21 debut four days earlier and looks destined for a higher level.

So does 17-year-old midfielder Dele Alli, a precocious talent already being talked of in the £3million bracket.

Neither of those disappointed on Saturday – nor did the visitors. Presented with such a test, they stuck to their task manfully.

For the first 20 minutes, it had the feel of a very long afternoon for the 1,004 fans who had travelled from West Yorkshire.

Play was camped in away territory and when they did get possession, the Bantams struggled to string more than a couple of passes together.

Then Nahki Wells pounced. The Dons, who had already hit the bar through Shaun Williams, were opened up on their left and the Bermudian was alive to good work from Garry Thompson to work the cross beyond Ian McLoughlin.

Thompson then had an unwitting assist in the equaliser. Trying one trick too many on the halfway line, he was robbed by Darren Potter and Bamford needed no encouragement to join Wells on 13 goals for the season.

The hosts pushed forward again – only for City to stun them for a second time. Kyel Reid tore forward purposefully from the halfway line as far as the edge of the penalty area.

James Hanson wanted the cross but Reid got too much on it – and then watched with glee as his chipped effort soared over the keeper and inside the top corner. “Cross!” smiled Parkinson afterwards as he pre-empted the inevitable inquiry.

It was a major bonus for City and they looked to cash in from the resumption with a determined push for a third.

Wells clipped a post from a free-kick and Hanson twice went close from corners. But when the next goal materialised, it was at the other end from a Williams penalty.

The fact that the spot-kick was awarded after much delay on the say-so of the fourth official did not matter. Wells had blatantly tripped Alli and there were no arguments in the City camp.

But far from digging in for a point, they delivered another grandstand finish.

There was no “dark age” twist to this late strike; just top-notch movement, anticipation and fitness.

Sub Mark Yeates, in point-proving mode, cleverly released James Meredith on the overlap. The Aussie, who had covered two-thirds of the pitch, fired across goal and there was Kennedy in the perfect spot.