How's that for starters as Threlfall proves an instant hit

Few would have given them a prayer at Spotland after the Accrington loss.

But Peter Taylor’s brilliant Bantams turned the table on its head with a result that would have wrecked every betting slip.

It was hard-earned, fully-deserved – and clinched with two of the best strikes you will see all season.

The first came from debutant Robbie Threlfall, who provided a belting free-kick.

What’s that about Taylor and his League Two Midas touch?

The second was another rocket finish, this time from Gareth Evans, who made sure of the points with three minutes left.

Liverpool youngster Threlfall, the first of an expected rush of loan signings, had come straight in at left back.

But Luke O’Brien maintained his ever-present record in an advanced left midfield role as City lined up 4-5-1, with James Hanson the lone striker. Michael Flynn set up as the most attacking midfielder.

The snow was swirling at kick-off, though the pitch, which had passed an afternoon inspection, looked no worse than the one at Valley Parade.

City’s travelling support was not surprisingly a lot down on Saturday – and nowhere near the 3,000 that made the trip last season.

The visitors were heavy underdogs given current form but they had the first shot on goal, with Evans testing Frank Fielding on the skidding surface.

And after ten minutes they had the first goal. Threlfall’s corner was nodded goalwards by Lee Bullock and Fielding’s parry fell for Matt Clarke to ram home from eight yards out.

It was the first goal City had scored in nearly five hours of football – and no more than their bright start warranted.

The strong wind behind them was certainly helping and Rochdale were caught out again as O’Brien got beyond Hanson in the box and appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty.

But City were nearly undone from the resulting corner. O’Leary’s miscontrol near halfway was seized on by Chris O’Grady to send Gary Jones clear but the Rochdale skipper, with Clarke in hot pursuit, failed to keep his shot down.

Taylor was getting his point across on the sidelines, leaving players in no doubt when they were doing something wrong. But he must have been pleased with the response from the weekend.

Clarke was in the thick of it and flicked wide from another decent Threlfall corner.

Bullock picked up his ninth yellow card for a trip on Temitope Obadeyi and Matt Glennon had to be alive to turn over Tom Kennedy’s free-kick.

City continued to look sharp going forward. Bullock picked out Flynn’s angled run and Hanson stretched to divert his pass only inches wide.

Evans needed treatment after a collision with Fielding but it was leaders Rochdale who needed a chance to catch their breath. O’Grady skied an effort on the resumption before Flynn showed him how it should be done with a rasping half-volley on the turn which the keeper appeared to fingertip over, even though a goalkick was given.

The City fans were enjoying it as their team got stuck in. It was chalk and cheese compared with the Accrington debacle.

Rochdale’s wingers had swapped sides but Obadeyi’s first involvement on the left was a booking for catching Evans in the head.

Dale were pushing more as half-time approached – and City’s previous good work was undone right on the break. Annoyingly, it was another poor goal to add to the collection.

O’Grady used his strength to roll Steve Williams, who tried to win the ball instead of holding him up.

O’Grady supplied strike partner Chris Dagnall, who took a shot in his stride which wriggled under Glennon’s body at the near post. It was a soft way to cancel out all their previous efforts.

A half that had shown plenty of promise ended on a real bum note for the Bantams, and left them facing the prospect of a second-half onslaught playing into the elements.

Thankfully the snow had eased by the restart, which began with a new yellow ball.

It soon settled into a predictable session of attack against defence as Rochdale chased a second goal. City needed to start keeping the ball better.

Flynn won an early corner but referee Chris Sarginson rightly ignored shouts for handball against Nathan Stanton. Dale countered and the tricky Obadeyi, now back on the right, cut inside O’Brien but saw his shot charged down.

Hanson did well to stoop and knock back Threlfall’s hopeful pass and Evans unleashed an early strike that flew wide.

Evans then picked out Hanson bursting into the box and he tried to play in Flynn but got too much on the ball.

Rochdale made the first sub on the hour with Obadeyi surprisingly withdrawn, although it has been a regular tactic in recent games.

City escaped four minutes later from a corner. Will Atkinson’s flick was missed by Dagnall coming in at the far post and O’Grady scooped the ball over.

Then Scott Wiseman used his pace to zip past O’Brien to set up Dagnall for a tap-in, which Glennon just managed to smother.

Bullock had an isolated chance for City but the bulk of the game was being played in their half.

Glennon had to time his dive perfectly to snaffle possession away from the sliding Dagnall.

But then, like Saturday, Hanson missed a glorious chance to put the Bantams back in front.

The big striker initially did well to latch on to Simon Ramsden’s long pass and hold off Craig Dawson. Suddenly he was goal-side just outside the six-yard box with only Fielding to beat – and jabbed the ball wide.

Taylor sensed the game was there for the winning again and added Michael Boulding as an extra striker.

Threlfall suddenly cut through from nowhere, only to be taken down on the edge of the box by Stanton. Flynn cheekily put the ball on the penalty spot but the foul was inside the D.

Threlfall took the free-kick – and bent a spectacular effort over the wall and in off the keeper and bar. Technically it hit Fielding last but it would be incredibly harsh to deny the new boy a dream finish and his first senior goal.

And City sealed it with three minutes left with an even better strike.

Hanson nodded O’Brien’s angled cross into the path of Evans and from 20 yards he almost broke the net with a screamer into the top corner.

One win doesn’t change a season. But this was a night to savour.