Bradford (Park Avenue) came from two goals down to maintain their unbeaten start to the league season, as they welcomed Beverley Town to the Horsfall Community Stadium.
The Avenue got off to the worst possible start as they fell behind to a Jack Watson strike, just two minutes in. The Beverley Town attacker picked up possession on the right side of the box before firing a low effort across the wet surface and into the bottom corner, beyond the reach of Avenue goalkeeper Declan Lambton.
Bradford responded well to the early setback and came close to an immediate equaliser, rattling the woodwork, minutes later. Louie Chorlton’s wicked cross from the right, took a touch off a Beverley Town defender before bouncing back off the crossbar, with the visitors’ defence breathing a collective sigh of relief as the ball was eventually cleared to safety.
The Avenue continued to push for an equaliser and were denied on more than one occasion by Beverley Town goalkeeper Leigh Overton. The visiting stopper first kept out an effort from in-form Brad Abbott from range, before producing another strong save to deny Luke Parkin’s volley.
Just as the Avenue seemed to be building momentum, the visitors doubled their lead, with what felt like a sucker punch against the run of play. An in-swinging cross from the left appeared to catch the Avenue defence off guard, leaving substitute Cameron Connelly, who had replaced the injured Watson, with a simple finish at the back post.
After the interval, the Green Army pushed in search of an equaliser, but little seemed to be going their way. That changed just after the hour mark, when a quadruple substitution by manager Craig Elliott breathed new life into the side.
No sooner had Kareem Hassan-Smith, Adriano Moke, Bailey Thompson and Ben Andreucci been introduced, than an Avenue corner from the left was headed emphatically beyond Overton by captain Jameel Ible, beating the impressive goalkeeper, who had kept the Avenue at bay, for much of the evening.
What followed was an Avenue onslaught on the Beavers’ goal. Robbie Fox was the latest to test Overton, producing a trademark dribble down the left before cutting inside onto his right foot, only to be denied by another smart save.
Undeterred by the outstanding form of the visiting goalkeeper, the Avenue finally found their equaliser six minutes from time. A well-worked move down the left eventually saw the ball played to an unmarked Chorlton at the back post, who made no mistake from close range to send the ball into the net.
However, try as they may, the Avenue were unable to find a winner in the time that remained, but there was plenty to admire in a performance which showcased the character within the side. Two goals down against a well-organised Beverley Town outfit, Bradford responded with a dominant second half display, refusing to let the deficit derail their unbeaten start to the league season.
The Avenue’s next task comes in the Emirates FA Cup, with Lancaster City providing the opposition in the Second Round Qualifying on Saturday (19 September). Bradford have already shown they can compete against opposition from the Northern Premier League Premier Division this season, having defeated Curzon Ashton in the previous round, and will hope to repeat the feat against the Dolly Blues. With the Horsfall Community Stadium hosting the tie, the Green Army will be hoping to see another memorable FA Cup afternoon when the tie kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.
Match Report by Ste Grimshaw
Full Time: Bradford (Park Avenue) 2-2 Beverley Town
Attendance: 464
Referee: Adam Watson
Venue: Horsfall Community Stadium
Bradford (Park Avenue): Lambton, Brown (Hassan-Smith 65′), Winfield, Ekpolo, Misambo, Ible (C), Chorlton, Abbott (Andreucci 66′), Carver (Moke 67′), Parkin (B. Thompson 66′), Fox.
Unused substitute: J.Thompson
Goalscorers: Ible (67′), Chorlton (84′)
Beverley Town: Overton, Sherburn, Stockhill, Gibson-Booth, Attree (Larkin 46′), Knaggs (C), Lovick, Taylor (Suluburic 77′), Smith (Rennardson 90′), Snelgrove (Ofori 63′), Watson (Connelly (27′)
Goalscorers: Watson (2′), Connelly (35′)