Bradford 1 Town 1 - Report and pictures

Town faced an aerial barrage but stood firm to collect their first point of the season, after Tyrone Barnett cancelled out Billy Clarke's 43rd-minute opener within seconds of the restart.

Bradford had most of the chances and Alan Sheehan hit the post and Billy Clarke hit the side-netting in the first-half.

After the break, Connor Goldson cleared off the line from Stephen Darby, Sheehan headed into the sidenetting and James Hanson was narrowly over with a long-range drive.

It was a dogged performance, in which Ryan Woods was superb as the holding midfielder and Goldson was again brilliant at the back.

Micky Mellon's side held firm and completed a hugely testing first eight days of the season on an optimistic note.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Town named an unchanged line-up from the team that beat Blackburn 2-1 away in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.

But there was a change on the bench as fit-again goalkeeper Mark Halstead replaced Callum Burton after a knee injury.

Both teams lined up in a diamond formation, with Ryan Woods at the base for Town and Abu Ogogo at the tip and Liam Lawrence and Martin Woods tucked in, in between.

Bradford (4-4-2 diamond): Williams; Darby, McArdle, Sheehan, Meredith; Liddle, Routis, Morris (Marshall 64), W Clarke (Knott 67); Hanson, Davies (Anderson 64).

Subs not used: N Clarke, McMahon, James, Cracknell (gk).

Town (4-4-2 diamond): Leutwiler; Tootle, Goldson, Grandison, Sadler; R Woods, Lawrence (McAlinden 79), M Woods, Ogogo; Barnett, Collins (Akpa Akpro 72).

Once the action started, Shrewsbury came under the expected aerial bombardment from Bradford, who looked to launch if forward quickly at every opportunity.

Town were soon having to defend, but the first opening didn't come until the 23rd minute.

A drive from Billy Clarke, playing behind the front two, was blocked by Connor Goldson on its way then superbly tipped wide by goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler.

The move started with a shot from Gary Liddle, which was blocked by the man who was to emerge as his shadow, Ryan Woods.

Two minutes later, Martin Woods had Town's first effort with a 30-yard drive that flew well wide.

A real contrast of styles emerged as Bradford looked to go direct and Town were looking to build up the play when they had the ball.

Shrewsbury appeared to have weathered Bradford's storm and were neatly building up their passing game when the Bantams took the lead.

Barnett had a sight of goal when he climbed highest to Matt Tootle's deep cross but his header lacked power and was easily caught by goalkeeper Ben Williams.

Bradford went desperately close to taking the lead in the 40th minute.

Alan Sheehan hooked towards goal from Christopher Routis's cross and Leutwiler appeared to get a touch to it to tip it onto the far post and Billy Clarke lashed into the side-netting from point-blank range.

But after all their good work to keep them out, it was a mistake that was ruthlessly seized upon by Bradford to take the lead.

Lawrence gave the ball way under no pressure and the loose ball was seized on by Billy Clarke, who fed Steven Davies out wide then brilliantly scooped the cross into the roof of the net first time.

But if Bradford thought that would open the floodgates they were mistaken, as Shrewsbury provided the perfect response within seconds of the restart.

Connor Goldson chipped it forwards, James Collins flicked on and from a tight angle, Barnett held off Sheehan before burying a deflected shot into the net.

The game quickly opened up and it became more of an end-to-end affair.

Collins had the next sight of goal when a loose ball sat up beautifiully for him, but his volley from the edge of the box fizzed high into the Kop.

At the other end, Town briefly had to defend when Goldson cleared off the line from Stephen Darby's angled effort in the 53rd minute after Martin Wood lost his man in the box from a knockdown.

James Hanson proved he can be a danger on the ground as well as in the air when he let fly from 30 yards, but it flew narrowly over the angle with Leutwiler at full stretch.

Bradford made a double switch in the 64th minute when Mark Marshall and Paul Anderson replaced Josh Morris and Davies.

Then Billy Knott came on for Billy Clarke three minutes later after the latter had been caught by Goldson, who was booked for holding him up earlier in the move and the referee allowed play to go on.

Town threatened briefly when Martin Woods's 20-yarder arrowed just over on 71 then made their first change on 72 when Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro came on for Collins.

The visitors continued to defend well and Sheehan could only head into the side-netting, with Mat Sadler patrolling the post and looking to have it covered.

Town made their second change on 79 when Liam McAlinden replaced Lawrence and they went to 4-3-3.

Bradford rallied and pushed for a winner but failed to create clear-cut chances as Town threw themselves into every challenge.

In the five minutes of time added on, Bradford thought they had a penalty following a real tussle between Jermaine Grandison and Anderson which saw the latter fall to the ground.

But instead, the free kick went to Town, who later broke through McAlinden racing down the right.

He cut inside but with Akpa Akpro screaming for the ball in the middle, his low shot was poor and straight at goalkeeper Ben Williams. Micky Mellon's side, however, will be happy with the point.