BRADFORD City hadn’t just read the script, they’d acted it out before but that didn’t stop Accrington Stanley’s Jordan Clark playing his second starring role of the season to knock the Bantams out of the FA Cup.

The Reds’ forward had already netted the winning penalty in an epic shootout to send Stuart McCall’s side out of the EFL Cup in August and took centre stage again at Valley Parade, notching a superb goal 10 minutes from time to give his team a 2-1 win and put them into the hat for the second round draw.

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John Coleman’s team had led through Rommy Boco only for Matt Kilgallon to head the side third in League One level before Clark played his key role.

And there was still time for late drama with Stanley substitute Shay McCartan taken ill on the field and taken to hospital as a precaution.

City went into the game unbeaten at home in the league making this a tough draw, and it looked like it might be a tough afternoon early on.

As early as the third minute Mark Marshall crossed and James Hanson hit the target with a header only for Mark Hughes, one of three enforced Stanley changes, to clear off the line.

The hosts continued to threaten with Felipe Morais firing wide and heading off target before Marshall smashed a shot over.

But it was far from one way traffic, with Boco testing Colin Doyle before racing into Bradford territory and blasting a 25 yard strike off the bar.

The Benin international was not to be denied again and he gave the visitors a 30th minute lead.

Seamus Conneely kept an attack alive with a run down the right, cut it back to Sean McConville and his cross was headed home from close range by Boco for his sixth goal of the season.

The home team’s Haris Vuckic thought he’d restored parity just six minutes later as he played a one two with Morais, made his way into the box and drove in a low strike that looked destined for the net. Stanley keeper Elliot Parish disagreed, saving wonderfully with his legs.

That kept it 1-0 at the break and after the interval Stanley looked to extend their advantage.

Clark had only previously scored for the club in the Checkatrade Trophy but went close when he cut in from the left, beat two defenders and forced a good save from Doyle.

Bradford weren’t to go quietly though and Timothee Dieng headed over before they did draw level.

The equaliser was a routine set piece, with Billy Clarke delivering a corner onto the head of left back Kilgallon who did the rest.

Now it was all to play for again, with Dieng dragging an effort narrowly wide and Hanson heading into the hands of Parish.

It was Clark who would get the star billing though after Boco flicked a long ball from the right to him down the left and the Yorkshireman surged into the box and scorched a low strike past Doyle.

Glee at the win was swiftly turned to concern when McCartan hit the turf with nobody around him in stoppage time. But after lengthy treatment and tests in hospital the Northern Irishman was released to bring as much relief as joy at progressing.