Gary Lowe’s unbeaten Blue Square Bet North leaders finally appeared to be getting the better of their gutsy Evo-Stik Premier opponents after a disjointed opening period until Worsley, who’d been introduced at half-time, saw red for a second booking.
Bradford immediately sensed an upset and, after first being denied a winner by Adam Griffin’s goal-line clearance, eventually found one in the dying moments when Tom Greaves followed up to score after Hyde keeper Dave Carnell had initially foiled Billy Law.
Defeat was a bitter blow to the Tigers, who were desperate to bank the £8,500 winners’ prize and advance to the fourth and final qualifying round.
But there was no such disappointment for Cup specialists Droylsden, who dispatched Stocksbridge Park Steels 4-1 to leave themselves just 90 minutes away from a fourth first round proper appearance in five years.
Dan Gardner and Danny Rowe put the Bloods two-up inside 13 minutes and further goals by Nat Kerr and Gardner eased them into today’s draw after Stocksbridge had pulled one back.
Altrincham’s Cup conquerors Witton Albion made further progress, coming from behind to beat Spennymoor 3-1 – a victory which takes their prize-money to a cool £17,500.
But Witton’s Evo-Stik North rivals Radcliffe had their dreams of Cup glory shattered in a crushing 4-2 home defeat by Northern League minnows Hebburn.
Meanwhile, Stalybridge missed a chance to knock Hyde off the BSBN summit as they surrendered their unbeaten record in a 2-0 loss at Colwyn Bay.
Altrincham posted their fourth successive league victory with a 3-2 triumph over visiting Vauxhall Motors taking them up to fifth. Tweet