Coca-Cola League One

LES Pogliacomi's heroics ensured Latics preserved their League One status on a day of high drama at Boundary Park.

The Aussie goalkeeper turned in a five-star performance as Ronnie Moore's side ' knowing only a win would guarantee their survival ' produced a ruthless display in a frantic first half.

They had a dream start, going ahead after just two minutes when Luke Beckett's inch-perfect cross enabled Chris Killen to head past keeper Donovan Ricketts from close range.

That lead was almost doubled inside four minutes after Ricketts' throw-out struck Kevin Betsy and Neil Kilkenny's 20-yard lob agonisingly struck the bar.

But the anxiety heightened once again as news broke that relegation-threatened MK Dons were beating Tranmere and the Bantams drew level.

Betsy was harshly adjudged to have handled a Steven Schumacher shot and Dean Windass slotted the free-kick beyond Pogliacomi from the edge of the box on 10 minutes.

If the goalkeeper was slightly at fault for that, he more than atoned himself seconds later ' superbly denying Andy Cooke from Owen Morrison's cross.

Killen then turned provider for what proved the decisive goal on 21 minutes, lobbing over City's advancing backline for Beckett to walk home his sixth goal in nine games.

An injury to Gareth Owen forced a defensive reshuffle with Stefan Stam returning to central defensive duties and ' on the stroke of half-time ' hearts were in mouths again after Pogliacomi's flying fingertip save turned Cooke's thunderous first-time volley wide.

The second half was more classic nail-biting fare as Bradford pressed but continued to find Pogliacomi unyielding.

The ex-Paramatta Power man denied Cooke again and then held a stinging effort from Morrison after he turned Dean Holden inside out on the hour.

Latics had been denied a blatant penalty just minutes before that when David Eyres' shot struck David Weatherall's hand.

And that was one of several baffling decisions from referee Mick Fletcher who further infuriated the home fans 10 minutes from time when booking Beckett for diving after he was poleaxed when racing clear.

Pogliacomi then produced another late wonder save at his near post from Ben Muirhead before the final whistle signalled a celebratory pitch invasion and huge relief all round.

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