Facing an unbeaten Kirk Deighton Rangers side away from home was always going to be the most daunting task for the Avenue Reserves so far this season, but at the end of the game, there was a great sense of this being an opportunity missed.
As in previous games, it was Avenue who started the brighter and were soon on the front foot. They forced two corners inside the first three minutes without troubling the home goalkeeper.
The first effort on goal going high over the bar from Michael Douglas. After five minutes, a quick Avenue throw-in saw Connor Douglas hit a rasping shot that was blocked, and that rather set the tone for the afternoon.
However, just two minutes later, the home side missed a glorious opportunity to take the lead after a free-kick was floated into the Avenue penalty area. The ball rolled loose and, from just a couple of yards, the Rangers forward inexplicably fired wide of the post, instead of finding the target.
It was a wake up call for Avenue, and for the next 37 minutes it was they who were asking all the questions. Frustratingly though, despite good approach work it was the finishing that let Avenue down.
Too many efforts went either high or wide, and when they were on target, the home defence always managed to block a shot. Josh Owen hit the post, Jayden Cuffe should have headed home a M.Douglas cross and then Avenue hit the foot of the post from a C.Douglas shot.
The home custodian was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers, but Luke Morris still had to keep a shot out with his foot following a rare home attack. Dominance, however means nothing if there’s nothing to show for it, and Avenue then suffered a setback when they conceded just before the break.
A speculative ball into the Avenue area was met by a Rangers forward, who managed to get his foot to the ball which hit the underside of the bar, bounced back up and into the net. Avenue could feel rightly aggrieved at being behind, but a failure to capitalise on their own chances had cost them.
The second half began much like the first, with Avenue forcing an early corner. From that set piece, Cuffe blazed over the bar.
Five minutes into the half, Avenue came so close to achieving parity when a header from Cuffe looked to be heading into the net, only for the goalkeeper to produce a wonderful one handed save that went for a corner.
There was a more even tempo about the game now with both sides creating chances. The official let the game flow whenever possible, but he had to have stern words with Cuffe following a bad challenge which led to a booking.
Again, Avenue built up a head of steam as they searched for an equaliser and on 61 minutes they came so close to achieving that. Max Walker strode forward and hit a stunning drive that looked odds on a goal, only for the home goalkeeper to, once again, produce a one-handed save that went out for a corner. From that, Michael Hall’s header was snaffled on the line by the goalkeeper, Avenue denied once again.
As often happens, you press at one end and then get caught out at the back. Just a minute after Avenue had come so close to levelling, the home side broke upfield and then gained a throw. The throw itself was surprisingly delayed, but when it came in, it caught the Avenue defence napping. Once again though, after the initial effort came back off the woodwork, a Rangers forward was on hand to head home from close range.
Aenue had a mountain to climb, especially after losing the excellent Junior Thokoza who had taken a nasty blow to the head in the action that led to the second Rangers goal. Still though, Avenue, with great spirit didn’t give up and their persistence was rewarded in the 76th minute when Cuffe scored at the second attempt following a cross into the penalty area.
Once again though, despite creating openings, a ball was either overhit, or a home defender got in the way of a shot, such as happened to an effort from Tidiane Diallo, as time ran out for Avenue.
To lose a game like this in such fashion will rankle for a while because for reasonable periods of play Avenue were much the better side. It means nothing though if you can’t convert the chances you create, so hopefully it’ll be another lesson learned as the next game appears on the horizon.
The final score Kirk Deighton Rangers Reserves 2-1 Bradford (Park Avenue Reserves).
Match report by Paul Waterhouse