IT WAS always an impossible act to follow the unbelievable highs of the previous year but 2014 saw City establish themselves in the third tier.

A year that began in the midst of a three-month wait for a win ended with a nine-match unbeaten run. The Bantams head into the second half of the season with plenty to be positive about.

But before we banish 2014 to the history books, here are my five most memorable matches from the past 12 months – and a few that you'd rather forget.

THE BEST

PORT VALE H, February 18, won 1-0

CARL McHugh may have scored a more famous goal against Aston Villa but his first one since proved equally as memorable.

A 13-game winless run threatened to suck City into a relegation battle in their first season back in League One. They had not won at Valley Parade for nearly five months.

It seemed that another opportunity would go begging when a night of nearly constant pressure failed to break through.

Adam Reach smacked the woodwork with a half-volley but for all their huff and puff, City could not make their territorial advantage count as the game entered stoppage time.

One last corner offered one last chance. Gary Jones swung it over and there was McHugh soaring high above the pack to ram home.

QUOTE: "You need big moments in games of football and in seasons. Carl's header was a big moment for us and so similar to the one he scored against Villa last year," – Phil Parkinson.

LEYTON ORIENT A, March 29, won 1-0

AARON Mclean has always had a point to prove with Leyton Orient after they released him into non-League as a youngster.

The striker has had a good scoring record against the O's ever since – and maintained that with another accumulator-busting winner.

Few would have fancied City to upset a side locked in a three-horse race for the top two automatic promotion places. And things got tougher when on-loan left back Adam Drury was injured early on.

But replacement Carl McHugh summed up the steely determination of the Bantams backline as they kept Orient's marauding forwards on the tightest leash.

City struck early when Mclean took advantage of some slack marking to convert Gary Jones' corner. Orient had the best record in League One after conceding first – but not this time as City made sure their precious advantage did not go to waste.

QUOTE: "Azza was sat in the dressing room afterwards with a cut head covered in Vaseline and blood. He's like a rash to defenders, he's all over you," – Rory McArdle.

LEEDS H, August 27, won 2-1

EIGHTY two years of hurt were bludgeoned away when James Hanson's header hit the net beneath a disbelieving Kop.

City had not tasted Valley Parade victory over their bitter rivals since 1932 – but that sorry statistic was finally consigned to the history books after a climax as dramatic as any of their Capital One Cup memories from the Wembley run.

Despite bossing their Championship visitors for long periods, it seemed that the jinx would strike again when Leeds, who played an hour with ten men, grabbed the lead eight minutes from time.

Matt Smith's goal threatened to ruin the party until Billy Knott stepped up with a sensational quick response, powering home a 25-yard screamer from a half-cleared corner.

One minute and 40 seconds later, Gary Liddle bent a cross into the goal-mouth and Hanson forced it past keeper Stuart Taylor to send Valley Parade into raptures.

QUOTE: "My little boy turned to me and said 'did you teach him that one?' I wish! It was some goal and a great moment for Billy," – Neil Casson, Billy Knott's first football coach at Concord Rangers.

MK DONS A, September 16, won 2-1

WHEN James Hanson felt a stab of pain in his thigh during the pre-match shooting practice, it seemed that the gods were conspiring against City.

Already missing Andrew Davies and Alan Sheehan, resources were stretched to the limit against the high-flying Dons. The enforced late reshuffle meant a "little and little" frontline of Billy Clarke and Aaron Mclean against a free-scoring home team that had just whupped Manchester United 4-0 in the Capital One Cup.

Stephen Darby cleared an early MK effort off the line before City stunned their hosts when Mclean bundled home Billy Knott's corner.

A minute later and Clarke showed great skill and poise to drill a second into the bottom corner.

Dean Lewington pulled one back just before half-time following a slip by Jordan Pickford but City battled strongly for an against-the-odds success.

QUOTE: "This has to be right up there with the magnitude of the night. We were up against a team who had recently put four past Man United and I thought the manner of the performance was outstanding," – Phil Parkinson.

PRESTON A, November 15, won 2-1

PRESTON had not lost at Deepdale in the whole of 2014 – until the pesky Bantams came calling.

Nahki Wells was among the 1,300 travelling contingent to witness another ultra-professional job on the road.

City set the tone with an impressive first half that threatened to knock the stuffing out of North End. After their FA Cup scare at Halifax the week before, the visitors were on their game from the start.

It brought a reward after 26 minutes when Rory McArdle surprisingly found himself with plenty of room to nod home Andy Halliday's corner – the second season running that the centre half had netted at Preston.

The second half was more backs to the wall as Preston threw everything at the City goal. The claret and amber resistance was finally broken five minutes from time when Joe Garner scrambled home.

Preston sensed a dramatic winner but City had other ideas. Six passes later and Mark Yeates had curled a delicious shot into the far corner of the net – the home side hadn't touched the ball since the kick-off.

QUOTE: "Last season probably didn't go the way Yeatesy would have liked but he's working really hard for the team as well as showing his quality. He produced that bit of magic to win it for us," – Stephen Darby

AND THE NOT SO GOOD

CARLISLE A, February 11, lost 1-0

A poor game on a poor night settled by a poorly-defended goal from a corner.

WALSALL H, March 25, lost 2-0

Phil Parkinson agreed with the home fans who booed City off the pitch after they failed to fire a single shot on target.

YEOVIL H, September 6, lost 3-1

City forgot how to defend set-pieces for the day and conceded all three goals to crosses.

BARNSLEY A, October 12, lost 3-1

Having scored in the first minute, City thought the job was done and paid a heavy price on live TV.

OLDHAM A, October 25, lost 2-1

A wretched slow start allowed Oldham to jump on matters early and left City too much to do.