CITY 1 FLEETWOOD 0

THE Fylde Coast will always have its place in City folklore for one special night in Blackpool 21 years ago.

Now another play-off party beckons just eight miles up the road at Fleetwood’s modest Highbury home.

City took a significant step towards Wembley on May 20 thanks to one of their big-game hunters.

Rory McArdle’s second-half header puts them in the box seat for Sunday’s return leg.

Wheeling away with his tongue out, it was a familiar reminder of some of City’s recent glory. Stuart McCall’s side, in the words of their jubilant supporters, are very much “on their way” again.

Fifth has proved to be a bogey position in the League One play-offs – Swindon in 2010 were the last club to finish in that spot and make it to Wembley.

But the Bantams look well equipped to buck the trend. They were certainly much better on the night than an unambitious Lancashire side, who managed only one corner and failed to muster a single shot on target.

After the mass changes at Rochdale, McCall brought back all the big hitters. But Alex Jones missed out with the hamstring issue he suffered at the weekend.

Fleetwood are bidding for a seventh promotion in 12 years – and centre half Nathan Pond has been involved in all of them dating back to the days of the North West Counties League.

It has been a phenomenal rise for the Cod Army, who are only in their fifth season of league football.

Boss Uwe Rosler was deliberately playing up their underdogs tag – and the bookies had installed City as play-off favourites before the game.

But nobody was fooled about the quality of the opposition, who had finished two points above the Bantams and been in with a shout of automatic promotion right until the final afternoon.

The tension of the occasion was evident inside the first minute as Tony McMahon squared up with Fleetwood midfielder Bobby Grant.

City did the early pressing towards the Kop and Pond saved Fleetwood with a superbly-timed interception as Billy Clarke looked to burst clear on goal.

The swirling wind caused both defences some discomfort and nearly caught out Colin Doyle. Conor McLaughlin’s deep cross bent away from the keeper and David Ball hooked across goal from Grant’s flick-on.

But it was a positive start for the hosts against the team who boasted the most clean sheets in League One with 20.

Again the wind was a factor as Grant sliced horribly towards his own goal where Charlie Wyke’s volley was held by keeper Alex Cairns.

But Doyle couldn’t blame any gusts for the howler that almost gifted Fleetwood a 21st-minute opener. He scuffed a clearance straight to Ball, whose chip over the stranded keeper landed on top of the net.

It was a major let-off for the Bantams and must have put the wind up the keeper, who had not conceded a single goal in the previous three Valley Parade outings.

City continued to dictate the play without finding that one clear opportunity. Josh Cullen was seeing plenty of the ball and he found Mark Marshall for a deep cross that was headed over by James Meredith making a foray into the box.

Marshall then teased his way past McLaughlin again to deliver to the far post where it just needed a touch.

The breakthrough nearly came seven minutes before the break as Clarke’s 20-yard volley flew past Cairns but pinged back off the foot of the post.

The Irishman floated another drive over the bar but Fleetwood, as their record suggested, were proving a tough nut to crack despite City’s dominance of possession. With a back five plus holding midfielder, Rosler’s side were basically lining up 6-2-2 and leaving little room to exploit.

There might have been some disappointment to go in at half-time level. But given that City had let in three by the same stage in their previous two play-off openers, it was definite progress.

The Bantams had the strange sensation of attacking an empty Bradford End after the break.

But they were quickly into their stride. Marshall drove wide and Cullen threatened to end a nine-month wait for a second goal with a curling free-kick that Cairns tipped wide.

City kept up the pressure and a spell of penalty-area pinball saw the ball drop to Romain Vincelot. But the skipper could not keep his effort down from ten yards out.

Fleetwood countered as Amari’i slid in Cole but Doyle was quickly out to block – as the Fleetwood striker was taunted with a chorus of “City reject” from the Kop behind the goal.

It looked a decent chance and one of his final touches before being subbed to more taunts from the home fans.

Tony McMahon’s set-piece delivery had been good and when he tried to get in on the shooting act after swapping passes with Cullen, it needed a big block from Ashley Eastham to deny his goal-bound attempt.

Jordy Hiwula replaced Clarke with 20 minutes left to add a bit more pace going forward.

He was presented with a chance almost straight away from Meredith’s low cross, the ball spinning to Wyke whose close-range snap shot was blocked.

“Raise the Roof” said the message on the scoreboard and the Kop, led by the non-stop voices of K Block, were trying to do their bit in a crowd that was 1,000 down on any in the league this season.

And come the 77th minute the roof duly came off.

Hiwula’s quick feet won a corner and from McMahon’s kick, McArdle glided in for one of those trademark near-post headers across the keeper.

It was like Aston Villa and Northampton all over again. We’ve seen it before from the big defender and his third goal in 11 play-off career appearances – the previous two were both at Wembley - got the place rocking.

City deserved the victory – the first time they will go into a second leg with the lead since 1988. But it is a slender advantage and Fleetwood will surely offer far more bite on their own turf.

Wembley is in City’s sights but there is plenty of work still to be done.