Valiant Villagers stun Avenue

Rock-bottom North Ferriby United stunned Bradford Park Avenue with a 1-0 victory at the Horsfall Stadium.

Mark Bower shuffled the pack despite a respectable draw with Salford City on Tuesday, re-instating Ryan Toulson, Dany Pybus and Jamie Spencer to the starting eleven. On-loan Guiseley forward Frank Mulhern was handed his first start, whilst Matt Hill and Adam Nowakowski dropped to the bench. Veteran midfielder Danny Boshell was withdrawn from the squad altogether, as was Javan Vidal due to injury.

Avenue were on the front foot from the first whistle and dominated possession during the early stages but failed to muster an effort on goal as the Ferriby backline held strong. Jordan Cooke made a vital interception after a through ball from Oli Johnson almost allowed Pybus to race through on goal.

It was the young midfielder on loan from Bradford City that was the first to pull the trigger, but he saw his effort deflected wide before it could reach Ross Durrant.

The visitors then took a shock lead with 19 minutes on the clock as Lewis Collins darted into the box and drilled his effort past Steven Drench.

Avenue’s frustrations were intensified shortly after conceding, as Frank Mulhern saw a close-range effort blocked and Jamie Spencer was booked for a late and unnecessary challenge.

The hosts finally tested Durrant after thirty minutes of trying to do so, as Pybus forced a strong palm away from the ‘keeper after Johnson had threaded through to the young loanee.

Frank Mulhern was then hauled down in the box after a wrestle with the Ferriby centre-backs but saw his appeals for a penalty dismissed by the referee.

The robust forward almost weighed in with an assist shortly after, as he powered past Koyo Keyi before Adam Boyes failed to steer his cushioned volley on target.

Boyes then had another opportunity to equalise after a marauding run from Johnson allowed him to find Mulhern in the box. The Irish striker teed him up before Boyes’ shot was deflected wide.

HALF-TIME: Bradford Park Avenue 0-1 North Ferriby United

Avenue carved open the Ferriby defence twice within the opening five minutes of the second-half, as Mulhern blasted wide after rounding Cooke and Durrant before Nicky Clee forced a good save from the Villagers’ stopper two minutes later.

Luca Havern then got on the end of a deep cross but could only head into the clutches of a grateful Durrant.

Avenue continued to be let down by their final ball, but Adam Smith provided some quality in the final third following his introduction. He turned Cooke inside-out on the left before crossing to Rob Atkinson, who headed wide.

The Villagers continued to pose a threat on the break and Joe Walker was thwarted by a poor touch that allowed Drench to dive at his feet after the substitute had raced through.

Bobby Johnson then stung the palms of Drench with a powerful drive from distance that was originally spilled by the ‘keeper before being scooped up.

Avenue piled forward in droves as the clock ticked but couldn’t find a way past Durrant, and Ferriby even came close to extending their lead in stoppage time when Drench made a fantastic stop to deny Collins.

FULL-TIME: Bradford Park Avenue 0-1 North Ferriby United

Avenue visit Brackley Town next week, with the action kicking-off at 3pm.

Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Toulson (Hill 76’), Clee, Wroe (c), Atkinson, Havern, Mulhern (Nowakowski 68’), Pybus (Smith 59’), Boyes, Johnson, Spencer.

Unused substitutes: Hall, Killock.

North Ferriby United: Durrant, Cooke, Keyi, Johnson, Piercy, Mail, Deacey (Dunkley 56’), Forrester (Walker 56’, replaced by Clappison 82’), Harrison, Collins, Lofts.

Unused substitutes: Exall.

Attendance: 423

Referee: Adam Herczog

Dudley double salvages point for Salford

A late brace from substitute Anthony Dudley rescued a point for the league leaders Salford City after Avenue had taken a shock 2-0 lead.

Mark Bower placed emphasis upon experience with his team selection, bringing the seasoned trio of Matt Hill, Danny Boshell and Adam Nowakowski into the starting eleven. Shane Killock, Jamie Spencer and Dan Pybus dropped to the bench whilst Ryan Toulson was dropped from the squad altogether. Guiseley defender Rob Atkinson had joined the club on loan that day, and was thrust into the action with an immediate start for his new club.

Atkinson showed little hesitation in giving supporters a glimpse of what to expect from him in the early stages as his first touch in Avenue shirt came with a full blooded challenge on Tom Walker.

The first-half was far from a thrilling spectacle, but the biggest chances of the opening stages fell to the hosts. Nathan Arnold powered an effort narrowly wide of the post and Jack Redshaw forced Steven Drench into an impressive stop after being played through on goal.

Tom Walker demonstrated his ability to trouble a defence with his set-piece deliveries throughout and Avenue were forced to desperately scramble away several dangerous crosses in the first-half especially. Danny Livesey leapt to meet a particularly teasing one but headed over.

Nicky Clee drew the first save of the game from Max Crocombe after being teed up by Adam Boyes, but saw his drilled effort held comfortably by the Salford stopper.

Avenue continued to frustrate Salford’s talented frontline and soon reaped the rewards for their patience when Nicky Wroe reacted quicker than his marker to latch on to a Clee cross before steering past Crocombe. The opening goal followed a lull in entertainment but was the catalyst for an increase in excitement in the second-half.

Salford came flying out of the blocks after the break, and Ibou Touray’s low cross somehow evaded the touch it needed to bundle it over the line.

However, Avenue held strong yet again and doubled their advantage with 53 minutes on the clock. Crocombe spilled a shot into the path of a lurking Adam Nowakowski and the midfielder made no mistake in steering home to extend the visitors’ deserved lead.

Mark Bower’s side even had opportunities to put the game beyond Salford with a third, and Boyes was unlucky to see his curling effort skim the post after bringing down a Clee cross in the box.

Crocombe, now defending the goal in front of the travelling fans, had been mercilessly mocked at half-time and would have made his situation worse had his poor clearance been capitalised on by Wroe, whose through ball to Oli Johnson was intercepted.

With their desperation becoming increasingly apparent, the hosts began to pile the pressure on Avenue’s backline. The tough nut of Avenue’s defence did, however, eventually crack. Drench parried an effort that was scurried away by Frank Mulhern, but Dudley pounced before his marker to poke home after the clearance fell to the back post.

After a period of sustained pressure, Dudley rescued a point for Salford in dramatic fashion in added time, rifling a shot into the top corner after a strong run down the right flank.

Salford City: Crocombe, Nottingham, Touray (Haughton 56’), Burton (Dudley 64’), Livesey, Maynard (c), Arnold, Mafuta, Phenix (Askew 64’), Redshaw, Walker.

Unused substitutes: Allen, Dieseruvwe.

Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Vidal (Mulhern 65’), Hill, Wroe (c), Atkinson, Havern, Nowakowski (Spencer 76’), Boshell, Boyes, Johnson, Clee.

Unused substitutes: Killock, Pybus, Smith.

Referee: Sam Mulhall

Booked: Hill, Johnson (Avenue).