BARNSLEY 0

BRADFORD CITY 0

BARNSLEY will go into next weeks clash at Walsall knowing that the play offs are still within their grasp after a nerve shredding and frustrating goalless draw against Bradford City.

Andy Ritchie was forced into making changes for the final league game of the season with Dale Tonge, Bobby Hassell and Martin Devaney all coming in for suspended skipper Paul Reid, injury victim Neil Austin and Daniel Nardiello.

Although the Reds started brightly the warning signs were there as early as the fifth minute as Danny Cadamarteri broke free onto Dean Windass' flick but the former Everton star shot well wide of the target with only Nick Colgan to beat.

The Reds finally clicked on eight minutes as Brian Howard picked out a great pass into the area and Paul Hayes went tumbling under Lewis Emanuel's challenge but the referee waved away his half-hearted appeals for a penalty kick.

Two minutes later Devaney beat two players before bursting into the area but his low shot was well held by Donovan Ricketts. Seconds later Marc Richards found a great pass to send Hayes clean through on goal but again Ricketts was in the right place to steal the bouncing ball.

Devaney, who looked a real threat to City every time he picked up possession, again forced Ricketts into a save on 12 minutes as he broke before firing goalward from 20 yards. Devaney then caused problems with a deep corner kick on 18 minutes and Antony Kay almost got his volley on target from the edge of the area after the Bradford defence had failed to clear.

Cadamarteri was lucky to escape with a warning on 20 minutes after his ridiculously late challenge left Kay in a heap on the turf. The City striker received a stern lecture from referee Eddie Ilderton.

Devaney again showed great trickery and pace to leave his marker behind on 22 minutes but this time the winger could only hit his shot straight at David Weatherall from 25 yards.

Shuker then almost netted on 32 minutes as he tricked his way past a defender before seeing his shot deflect away after Stephen McPhail's dummy had wrong-footed the City defence. A minute later Richards raced clear onto another McPhail pass but was denied by Donovan's fine save.

Hayes then brought the very best from Donovan on 35 minutes with a dipping shot from the edge of the area that the City keeper did well to parry. Shuker was onto the loose ball in an instant but saw his volley saved although an offside flag would have ruled out the strike.

It really should have been Richards' day on 38 minutes as he broke the offside trap wonderfully to reach Howards' pass but took his eye off the ball at the vital moment and the chance went begging.

City, who had been second best throughout the entire first half, went within an inch of breaking the deadlock on 38 minutes as Mark Bower rattled the cross bar with a free header from Bobby Petta's cross. The loose ball fell to Windass but Colgan was in the right place to make an important save.

Again the Reds started quickly after the break but it was Petta who went closest to breaking the tense deadlock on 48 minutes as he tricked his way past Hassell's challenge before shooting inches wide of the far post. Cadamarteri then almost had a clean sight of goal on 53 minutes but his well-struck shot flew high over the top.

Richards really should have put the Reds in front and with a foot in the play offs on 58 minutes as he broke onto Hayes' flick before crashing the ball in on goal but Donovan was quickly down to make a great save.

Barnsley pushed on in search of that vital goal and Kay flashed a header over just after the hour mark from Howard's free kick.

Cadamarteri showed the worst side of his game on 62 minutes with a studs high challenge on Tonge that left the young full back in agony. Howard then tested Donovan with a low curling effort a minute later after the City defence had struggled with Shuker's cross

The Reds finally had the ball in the back of the net on 72 minutes as Hayes reacted quickest to prod home from close range after Richards had met McPhail's free kick but an offside flag brought an abrupt end the striker's celebrations.

Again the Reds pressed for a winner and Hayes almost created a goal for Tommy Wright on 82 minutes as the substitute powered a header in but Donovan was again in the right place to save. Hayes was the architect yet again on 85 minutes as his deep corner fell nicely for Hassell but the defender could only head straight at Donovan from 16 yards.

The Reds again felt aggrieved deep in stoppage time as Lewis Emanuel handled Hayes' cross right on the edge of the area. Barnsley were incensed as the infringement appeared to be inside the box although the referee was adamant and only gave a free kick.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Hassell, Heckingbottom, Hayes, McPhail, Howard, Kay, Shuker (Nardiello 72), Tonge, Richards (Wright 72), Devaney.
Subs: Flinders, McParland, Wroe.

BRADFORD CITY: Ricketts, Bower, Weatherall, Emanuel, Stewart, Colbeck (Muirhead 89), Bentham (Schumacher 70), Bridge Wilkinson, Petta (Brown 56), Cadamarteri, Windass.
Subs: Howarth, Kearney.