Bradford (Park Avenue) extended their remarkable unbeaten start to the season, playing out a goalless draw away to in-form West Auckland Town to make it 18 games without defeat.
With the hosts having collected 13 points from a possible 18 in the weeks leading up to the fixture, the Green Army would have anticipated a stern test on a difficult playing surface. The challenge was further compounded by news of Ryan Toulson’s resignation as Assistant Manager, which broke in the build-up to the game.
However, under the leadership of Academy Director Craig Large and Adriano Moke, the Avenue made a bright start to proceedings, with Marcus Carver coming close in the 11th minute. A poor clearance from West Auckland Town goalkeeper Steven Bessent was intercepted by the Bradford forward, who attempted to catch his opposite number off his line, only to see his effort loop narrowly wide of the target.
Bradford enjoyed good control during the opening stages, with West Auckland Town fashioning their first opportunity of the evening in the 15th minute. The hosts had initially looked to catch the visiting defence out with long balls through the middle, but Avenue goalkeeper Declan Lambton was well positioned to deal with the threats. However, on this occasion West Auckland worked a promising passing move down the right, which culminated in a cross into the penalty area for Fin O’Gorman, but the West attacker could only direct his header wide of the target.
Six minutes later, Bradford threatened at the other end. A West Auckland failure to deal with a set-piece saw the ball fall kindly to Scott Duxbury, who managed to get a shot away from close range, only for his effort to be cleared off the line by the hosts’ defence.
Arguably the best opportunity of the first half fell to the hosts in the 33rd minute. A well-delivered West Auckland Town corner found an unmarked Ben Trotter, but the defender could only send his powerful header narrowly over the crossbar when he really should have done better.
Having produced an aggressive, front-foot display during the opening 45 minutes, Avenue found themselves under greater pressure after the restart as the hosts began to asset their authority on proceedings. West Auckland forced the Bradford defence into a series of crucial interceptions, before, in the 70th minute, Lambton was called into action for the first time. The Avenue goalkeeper showed excellent reactions to keep out a goal-bound low effort from the hosts.
The introduction of substitutes Ben Andreucci and Louie Chorlton appeared to inject fresh impetus into the Avenue attack. Just three minutes later, a corner was cleared as far as Luke Parkin on the edge of the area, but his powerful effort lacked accuracy and sailed over the crossbar.
Moments later, Andreucci found space on the right-hand side of the penalty area and fired a low effort towards goal, only for West defender Eckley-Aldsworth to produce a crucial goal-line clearance.
The closing stages produced an exciting end-to-end contest, with both sides pushing for a winner. In the 84th minute, the hosts came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock as O’Gorman, who had posed a constant threat to the Bradford defence, fired an effort beyond Lambton, but Charlie Winfield came to Avenue’s rescue with a superb goal-line clearance.
Ultimately, neither side could find the finishing touch to break the deadlock, despite an entertaining contest that saw both teams create opportunities to snatch all three points.
It was a valuable point for both sides, with the result extending Avenue’s record-breaking unbeaten start to the season to 18 games. The Green Army can also take encouragement from a third consecutive clean sheet, while the point ensures Bradford remain top of the league on goal difference, albeit having played a game more than second-placed Dunston.
Match Report by Ste Grimshaw
Date: Tuesday 10 November 2026
Full Time: West Auckland Town 0-0 Bradford (Park Avenue)
Attendance: 286
Kick-off: 19:45pm
Referee: Elliot Cowens
Venue: The Northern Metal Recycling Stadium
West Auckland Town: Bessent, Hughes, Scott, Bailey (c), Eckley-Aldsworth, Trotter, Mitchell, Smith (Whitfield (87′), O’Gorman, Jackson, Harrison
Unused Substitutes: Dale, Sweet, Kerins, Jones
Bradford (Park Avenue): Lambton, Brown (c), Winfield, Ekpolo, Misambo, Duxbury, Hassan-Smith (Chorlton 70′), Parkin, Carver (Andreucci 70′), Haw (Songo’o 90′), Fox (B. Thompson 54′)
Unused Substitute: J. Thompson