Plymouth Argyle also drew 2-2, at Queen’s Park Rangers, to move up to second. New leaders in the Third Division after Rushden lost 4-1 at Cambridge United and Gordon Watson’s sixth goal of the season lifted Hartlepool to the top of the table. Finally, Darlington, spurned by Faustino Asprilla, eased their disappointment by earning a point from a 1-1 draw at Kidderminster.. Ashley Ward secured three points for Bradford with the first and last strike in a six-goal encounter against Yorkshire rivals Rotherham at Valley Parade yesterday. Nicky Law’s side had appeared to be cruising after taking a 3-0 lead against their previously unbeaten visitors, who had started the game third in the First Division table, only for an inspired triple substitution from the Millers’ manager, Ronnie Moore, to haul Rotherham right back into the contest.

I read in the paper where Ronnie Moore had said Bradford City were a disgrace and we should be kicked out of the League. I certainly mentioned his comments to my players before the game.”Moore acknowledged: “I was disappointed. We made them look like Real Madrid, but then we changed it by bringing on three substitutes and had them on the ropes at 3-2 before they scored their fourth goal and that hurt me.”Ward set Bradford on their way after 24 minutes,heading past Mike Pollitt in the Rotherham goal from six yards, after some good work from Andy Myers on the left.With the second period just two minutes old, the hosts doubled their lead courtesy of a strike from defender Gus Uhlenbeek. A pass from their loan-signing Michael Proctor found Uhlenbeek, who sent a ferocious six-yard strike past Pollitt. Nine minutes later, Proctor connected with a delivery from Ward on the right by-line.Moore responded with his triple gambit, bringing Richard Barker, Nicholas Daws and Mark Robins into his attack. On 71 minutes, a ball from Paul Warne found the head of Barker, who scored from all of 18 yards.

With eight minutes left, Robins hit home a rebound at close range to make it 3-2. But then Ward struck again four minutes from time.Bradford City 4 Ward 24, Uhlenbeek 47, Proctor 56, Ward 86Rotherham Utd 2 Barker 71, Robins 82Half-time 1-0 Attendance: 12,385. Portsmouth reinforced their position at the top of the First Division at Fratton Park yesterday, but not with the degree of safety the score would suggest. Previously goal-shy Brighton suddenly remembered the aim of the game and, for a long period in this engrossing match, had the leaders on tenterhooks.

It also meant Brighton were never likely to come along the south coast like a confident invasion party. The visitors’ 2-0 home defeat by Walsall on Bank Holiday Monday was their fifth successive match without a goal, making it all the more ominous that they were again without prolific scorer Bobby Zamora, who has a knee injury but should return soon.Merson shone from the first minute and made his mark in under four. Nigel Quashie worked well to set up the attack, switching the play to the left, where Merson instantly sent a penetrating pass to Matthew Taylor, who slid a shot past the former Portsmouth goalkeeper Andy Pettersen.But Portsmouth’s lead lasted only five minutes as Brighton countered well and David Marney slammed a shot that cannoned off a retreating defence to Danny Cullip, who carefully placed his low shot beyond Shaka Hislop. Although Brighton had drawn Portsmouth’s early sting, Merson’s ideas still seemed to offer the best prospect of goals when the home side carelessly lost parity. Richard Hughes tried to turn the ball back to his goalkeeper but found Paul Brooker, who shot home.The defences continued to struggle and, when put under pressure by Deon Burton, Guy Butters, making his first appearance for Brighton, made a clumsy challenge. The referee had a clear view and Merson eagerly stepped forward to send the resulting penalty beyond Pettersen.Frailty at the back remained the dominant theme, so it was no surprise when a diagonal pass from Quashie just before half-time wrong-footed the entire Brighton defence.