A late goal from Bradford's Nakhi Wells ended Rochdale's FA Cup hopes as the home side progressed with a 1-0 win at the Coral Windows Stadium, sending the Bantams into the second round of the FA Cup with Budweiser.

The powerful strike from 30 yards out was the only goal of the game.

Rochdale who looked sharp from the outset enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half, but were unable to find the back of the net despite several half chances during the first 45 minutes.

It was evident from kick-off that Dale would look towards the pace of Harry Bunn and Nicky Adams as well as the power of Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro to pressure the Bradford defence. Within 12 seconds of the game getting under way Akpa Akpro had won a free-kick, he would prove to be a handful for the Bantams defence.

Moments after winning the set piece JLAA made his way into the box, turning as he struck the ball which had been laid off by the Skipper Gary Jones. It was well saved by the keeper but showed that Dale were keen to pressurise the Bradford defence from early on.

Harry Bunn who impressed against Preston North End in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy mid-week made the starting eleven despite doubts over whether he's make the line up after his excersions on Tuesday night. The youngster again put in a hard shift, using his quickness to take the ball past defenders. On seven minutes, he did well to get himself into the area but a well time challenged from the home side's Luke Oliver saw off the danger.

After a good start from Dale, Jones was caught out in mid-field as Ross Hannah took the ball out from under his feet and had a go at goal from around 25 yards out. The shot was dipping as it made it's way towards Lucas but it went wide of the target.

Bunn continued to create the type of presence in the box that Dale had been missing in recent weeks, his quick foot work and body power, despite his size, added to Dale's threat. On ten minutes the 18 year old got round two defenders, but in the end his shot went wide of the post.

In between long spells of possession for Rochdale, Bradford's first half chance of the game came on 11 minutes. Liam Moore did well to link with Oliver, to drive the ball forward but Marcus Holness was there to clear it away.

Jones too was involved in much of Dales's forward play and he put a shot away from 15 yards out, the Bantams keeper Jon McLaughlin did well to see the ball as it powered towards him and managed to get a hand to it to see it out for a corner.

Dale continued in search of the opener as the game approached the half hour mark, and McLaughlin again did well under pressure see off a shot from Bunn who hit the ball from a difficult angle on the left hand side of play following a pass into his feet from Andrew Tutte.

After a long period of possession by the visitors, the home side began to creep back into the game and the won their first corner of the game after 34 minutes. The quick feet work of Jack Compton saw him get the ball in towards goal which was deflected round the post. Just before half time Bradford's Steve Williams had a long range effort which went well wide of the post.

There were no changes at half time as both managers stuck with their starting eleven. Bradford came out the traps the quickest and really applied the pressure on the Dale defence.

Compton who had shown a glimpse of his skill in the first half, used his quick feet to take the ball round the Rochdale defence and get the ball in from the left hand side. However the cross went out for a goal kick after going over the top of the bar.

Minutes later the home side came close again as three Dale players got in the way of each other. This almost led to the ball ending up in the net if it hadn't been for Lucas who did well to scoop up the ball.

Bradford's high tempo start to the second half continued and Jason Kennedy cleared a header from substitute James Hanson off the line on 70 minutes. Hanson who had only been on the park for four minutes got his head to a cross in from a corner.

A minute later Hanson had another opportunity after a cross into the box from the left hand-side by Compton. A good reflex save from Lucas kept the ball out. The substitute was on the attack moments later but his cross flew across the face of goal as no-one could latch onto the end of it. As the ball ended up rolling towards going out of play Chris Mitchell had a shot from around 20 yards out but Lucas again was there to keep the score at 0-0.

Dale kept looking for an opening to get back into the game and Bunn had an effort which was saved by McLaughlin on 75 minutes. A minute later Bunn again had a go at goal from inside the box but the ball was parried away by the goal-keeper.

Bradford however continued to press and they went ahead on 85 minutes. Substitute Nahki Wells' hit a screamer from 25 yards out on the right hand side which rocketed into the top left hand corner of the goal leaving Lucas with no chance. It was well taken shot and one which in the end would send the Bantams into the second round of the FA Cup with Budweiser.

As time ticked down towards the full time whistle Bunn and Akpa Akpro continued to force saves from the goal-keeper but were unable to find the goal that would pull Dale back onto level terms.