It was particularly satisfying for Ward, fondly remembered for his spell of two years during the 90s and he led the line well for a Bradford side who grew in confidence as the burden of expectation increasingly forced their hosts into a proverbial shell.
Early chances for Derby's Nick Chadwick and Ward had gone begging before the Bantams took the lead in the 14th minute.
Paul Boertien's attempted clearance was charged down by Ward and reached Claus Jorgensen on the corner of the penalty area and the winger let fly with a volley and found the back of the net via a hefty deflection off Ward.
The goal stung Derby into action and they fashioned a host of chances with Bradford keeper Aidan Davison saving well from Lee Morris and Chadwick.
And he could count himself unlucky in the 28th minute when he was finally beaten as the Rams restored parity a crossfield pass by Rob Lee was nodded down by Adam Bolder and Chadwick volleyed across goal with Davison doing superbly to turn the ball aside, but only into the path of Morris who sidefooted home at the back post.
The Derby defence still looked prone to counter attacks from the Bantams and Andy Gray almost restored the lead instantly as he was allowed to gallop clear before drawing a fine save from Lee Grant.
Neither side could muster so much as a half chance for half an hour in the second half and a point looked like being the limit of their expectations.
But Bradford finished strongly with Gray glancing a header inches wide and Warren Barton threatening to add to his collection of Derby own goals when he stabbed a clearance narrowly wide.
Substitute Jamie Lawrence looks to have wasted the best chance when he fired over from the edge of the box, but he was instrumental in securing the winner a minute into stoppage time.
His surging run ended with him slipping the ball wide to Ward who cut inside on his right root and drew a fine save from Grant.
But Gray clipped the ball back into the penalty area and amid the flying feet the ball ricocheted into the net with both Lawrence and Ward seeming to get a toe on the ball.
Bradford boss Nicky Law later was to award the goal to Ward though the spoils were very much down to a superb team effort and at the final whistle the Derby fans registered their dissatisfaction with their club.