Bradford City Women came from behind with 10 players on Sunday to secure a 2-2 draw at home to high-flying Blackburn Rovers.
The Bantams could have had all three points in truth, but the scores were goalless at the break despite their dominance in the opening 45 minutes.
Then, within 16 minutes of the restart, they found themselves a goal and a player down as Shauna Legge received a harsh second yellow - to match her first – four minutes after Blackburn broke the deadlock.
City kept fighting though and found themselves on level terms with just over 15 to play, Danielle Whitham scoring her side’s third spot-kick of the game on a hectic day for the officials.
Hannah Campbell looked to have won it for Bradford when she came off the bench and made it 2-1 with seven remaining, but Blackburn’s equaliser only two minutes later ensured the points were shared in a thrilling encounter.
The Bantams were the underdogs coming into the game based on the standings, with them sixth and Blackburn third, but that didn’t show in what followed.
Bar comfortably saving a long range effort early on, Chloe Precious and her defence had nothing to do in the first period as City pushed Rovers all the way back.
They were unlucky not to take the lead before the 20 minute mark as Chantelle O’Hara saw her free-kick tipped onto the bar by the ‘keeper, and even unluckier not to convert the rebound. The loose ball crashed off the woodwork again on its way down, meaning it evaded the lurking Alarna Fuller as Blackburn scrambled it away.
A minute later Rosie McDonnell had a shot well saved too, and then Sarah Danby was a goal line clearance away from breaking the deadlock, only for her determination to stay on her feet despite contact when rounding the ‘keeper not to be rewarded as the defence hurried back to cover.
Despite all the pressure though, the scores were goalless at the break; Danby and Paige Crosby having further half chances before the interval but being unable to convert.
Within 60 seconds of the restart, however, City were given a golden opportunity to open the scoring from the spot. It was Danby who drew the contact again, with the downed Blackburn ‘keeper swiping her ankles from beneath her just as the forward was about to score from two yards out.
Somehow though, the visiting stopper avoided what looked to be a certain red card and then denied O’Hara from 12 yards, just to frustrate the hosts even more.
Blackburn almost made everything even more sour three minutes later as they then broke through one-on-one with Precious, but the City ‘keeper made a terrific stop.
As a frantic start to the second half continued, the visitors were counting their lucky stars once again as Fuller saw a header thump against the woodwork, and two minutes later, after being out-played for 56 minutes, the were ahead.
City were caught on the counter having poured so many bodies forward, and Blackburn’s right winger exposed the space she was given to pick out a teammate to head home at the far post.
The task of coming from behind didn’t seem too daunting with City dominating, but it suddenly became much more difficult when Legge was sent off for a second yellow.
Just like her first booking, it was a nothing one; with her pressing the ‘keeper to stop her timewasting and force her to pick up the ball. However, a dramatic reaction from Blackburn’s stopper made up the minds of the officials as Legge was dismissed after barely catching her opponent – and certainly not with intent.
The response from the bench was to bring on striker Campbell for defender Chelsie Stokes, and the substitute nearly scored within three minutes of entering the field of play, only for a good save to thwart her.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the game continued in the same vein as the first half; City dominating and looking more than likely to score next.
With the team switching to a back three and almost playing with four up front as they searched for a result, the fact that they were down to 10 hardly mattered as it instead just spurred them on even more.
The Bantams could have been forgiven for thinking that everything was against them though; Fuller having a header cleared off the line before Danby became the second player to see a spot-kick stopped by a goalkeeper that probably should not have been on the pitch.
However, a third spot-kick would be converted, with McDonnell hacked down as she pounced on the rebound of Danby’s saved penalty - Whitham stepping up to smash it down the middle and equalise.
The momentum was with City now and they were keen to make it count, having just over 15 minutes to secure the three points they felt they deserved.
With them pushing forward though, the Bantams were vulnerable on the counter and were so close to going behind again with eight to play.
Three Blackburn players had snuck in behind the defence and, when one rounded Precious and struck towards an empty net, it looked like 2-1. Yet, captain Charlotte Stuart raced out of nowhere to save the day, clearing the ball right on the line at the last second.
O’Hara then cleared the resulting corner on the post and City raced away on the counter. Crosby led the attack down the right and her low cross was met by Campbell, who tucked it away on the second attempt and put the hosts ahead - to their sheer delight.
It was about seeing the game out now; grinding out the 2-1 result with seven minutes remaining, but, as they say, you’re most vulnerable to conceding when you’ve just scored and Blackburn levelled things up two minutes later from a corner.
Danby had a half chance to win it deep into stoppage time as she was released by O’Hara, but the forward was tightly marked and saw her goal-bound strike blocked by a defender.
In the end, the points were shared, which will bring with it mixed feelings for City. On the one hand, a draw against third in the league after trailing with 10 men is terrific. On the other, the chances were there for them to win the game, regardless of the red card.
All in all though, eight wins in a row becomes nine games unbeaten as the Bantams continue to fight to the very end of the season for the best possible finish.