FOR 75 minutes Worcester City were heading for the perfect start to the new season.

Mike Symons and Rob Elvins had scored in each half at the Horsfall Stadium and everything was going to plan for Carl Heeley’s men.

But they had not reckoned with two strikes from centre-half Richard Marshall, including an 89th minute equaliser that was an early contender for goal of the season.

Frustration also got the better of new signing Matt Breeze, a second-half substitute, in stoppage time as he slid in on full-back Martin Drury and was shown a straight red card.

To complete the visitors’ implosion, the midfielder then needlessly swung his arm into Drury’s face as he left the pitch and could now face further repercussions.

It soured what had been a good day for Worcester and a decent advert for Blue Square Bet North football.

City, particularly during the first-half, played the ball around with consummate ease and should have added to Symons’ 11th minute strike from 10 yards.

Strike partner Danny Glover ended one good move by firing wide of the far post, while Charlie Reece was denied by keeper Tim Deasy.

Bradford took a while to adjust to their new standard of football, following promotion last season, but grew in stature after the break, forcing Glyn Thompson into several saves.

Reece enjoyed an excellent competitive debut and followed his corner delivery for City’s first goal with a carbon-copy for Elvins to scramble the second in the 59th minute.

Although Shabir Khan was not new to a City shirt, the defender was appearing in a Blue Square Bet North game for the first time since suffering cruciate ligament damage almost two years ago.

Manager Heeley sprung a surprise by including him alongside captain Stuart Whitehead in the centre of defence and pushing Elvins into midfield at the expense of Matt Breeze.

A gamble, perhaps, but it paid off as Shabir chased, tackled and headed his way to a more than respectable return.

Fatigue forced the 26-year-old off with 20 minutes to go — at a stage when Danny Edwards also came on for Greg Mills — and that’s when City's problems started.

Within four minutes, the defence failed to clear their lines at a corner and Marshall stabbed the ball home.

Bradford sensed their moment, pushing the visitors further back, and Marshall’s equaliser was deserved, even if it was of the 25-yard unstoppable variety that City have fallen victim to in the past.

Breeze’s stupidity, more his reaction afterwards than the foul itself, only proved just how quickly the pendulum can swing in this game.