Bradford (Park Avenue) returned to the summit of the Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Ashington AFC at the Horsfall Community Stadium, extending their unbeaten league start to 12 games and recording their best start to a season since 1964.
The Avenue made a quick start to the game, with in-form attacker Robbie Fox thinking he had put the hosts ahead just two minutes into the contest. Fox calmly lifted a left-footed effort beyond the advancing goalkeeper, but his celebrations were cut short as the assistant’s flag went up for offside.
The hosts continued to press for the opening goal and came close again in the ninth minute, as Jake Thompson and Fox were both thwarted by some excellent last-ditch defending from the Ashington backline.
The Avenue were eventually rewarded for their bright start in the 16th minute when they broke the deadlock. Jake Thompson’s clever run inside his marker was picked out by Scott Duxbury, and, from a tight angle, he calmly guided a right-footed finish into the bottom corner to give his side a deserved lead.
Just seven minutes later, Bradford doubled their advantage. J. Thompson turned provider this time, delivering an in-swinging corner into a crowded penalty area, where defender Duxbury rose highest to guide a header home and put the Avenue firmly in front.
Ten minutes later, the Green Army thought they had extended their lead to three, only for the offside flag to deny them once again. Ben Andreucci coolly slotted the ball beyond Ashington goalkeeper Matty Alexander, but the assistant referee on the far side ruled the Avenue attacker offside, chalking off the effort.
Andreucci was not to be denied for long though, finding the scoresheet six minutes before the break. The Avenue’s front line pressed aggressively inside the Ashington penalty area, forcing an error from the visitors’ defence. The loose ball fell to Luke Parkin, who unselfishly squared it to Andreucci, allowing the attacker to fire a precise finish into the bottom corner and put Bradford 3-0 ahead.
The Avenue continued to threaten as the half drew to a close, with J. Thompson coming agonisingly close to claiming his second goal of the afternoon. A constant threat down the left, he collected the ball before cutting inside the penalty area onto his right foot and curling a superb effort against the post. The rebound fell kindly for the visitors, who managed to clear their lines and prevent Bradford from adding to their advantage before the break.
The second half saw the hosts enjoy extended spells of possession, moving the ball around with purpose to keep Ashington chasing and gradually tire the visitors.
However, the Colliers did manage to pull a goal back in the 71st minute. Good work down the right side created an opportunity to deliver across goal, where attacker Noah Cunningham produced a clever flick to find the net, taking his tally to five goals in his last four appearances for Ashington.
The goal seemed to jolt the Avenue back into life, and they came close to restoring their three-goal advantage just minutes later.
Second half substitute Louie Chorlton found space on the right-hand side of the penalty area, but his effort was well saved by Alexander. The rebound eventually fell to the returning Adam Haw, whose left-footed strike looked destined for the net before being cleared off the line by Daniel Groves.
In the 79th minute, Bradford were denied by the offside flag once again. Chorlton delivered an excellent cross from the right, which Marcus Carver met with a powerful header and sent into the net. However, the assistant referee ruled the effort out for offside, much to the frustration of the Avenue striker.
Bradford eventually found their fourth goal just before the final whistle. Man of the Match J. Thompson exchanged a clever one-two with Haw to create space on the edge of the penalty area, before drilling a low right-footed effort into the bottom corner, beyond the outstretched arm of Alexander, to cap an outstanding individual performance.
The convincing victory capped a dominant afternoon for the Avenue, who extended their unbeaten league run to 12 matches and returned to the summit of the Northern Premier League East Division.
With Liversedge suffering defeat away at Matlock Town, Bradford took full advantage to move top of the table, remarkably still with a number of games in hand.
The result also marks the club’s best start to a league season since 1964, underlining the impressive consistency shown by the Green Army in the opening months of the campaign.
Craig Elliott’s side will now look to carry that momentum into Tuesday evening’s fixture against Bridlington Town, with a trip to the East Riding offering another opportunity to extend their unbeaten run and strengthen their position at the top of the table.
Match Report by Ste Grimshaw
Date: Saturday 17 October 2026
Full Time: Bradford (Park Avenue) 4-1 Ashington AFC
Attendance: 466
Kick-off: 15:00pm
Referee: Reagan Webber
Venue: Horsfall Community Stadium
Bradford (Park Avenue): Lambton, Brown (Chorlton 49′), Duxbury, Abbott (Moke 85′), Ible (c), Ekpolo, Hassan-Smith, J. Thompson, Fox (Carver 73′), Parkin (Haw 68′), Andreucci (B. Thompson 73′)
Goalscorers: J. Thompson (16′, 90′), Duxbury (23′), Andreucci (39′)
Ashington AFC: Alexander, Groves, Cogdon, Wombwell, Almond, Donaldson, Gibson (Henderson 57′), Ross (c), Cunningham, Gilchrist, Thompson
Unused Substitutes: Janusz, Lowery, H. Powell, R. Powell
Goalscorer: Cunningham (71′)