Vanarama National League North – October Manager & Player Of The Month

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VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH- MANAGER OF THE MONTH

Phil Parkinson (Altrincham)

As a Sports Science lecturer, Phil Parkinson knows it’s not just about someone’s strength of character – it’s their strength of mind, too. After a September which saw Altrincham defeated in three of their four National League North games, the Robins boss and his players certainly summoned something from within. October was a totally different story as four wins from five cast aside concerns after re-joining the division following on from their Step Three title success. Victories in the league against Nuneaton Borough, Alfreton Town and Ashton United were supplemented nicely by FA Cup success against Bradford (Park Avenue) – even if they did fall short in the following round at Stockport County. They are now only a win away from a play-off place as Alty attempt to make it back-to-back promotions. Ambitious? Well, Parkinson is all about the power of positivity.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH – PLAYER OF THE MONTH

Gary Roberts (Chester)

Chester have looked unstoppable in October and it was no small part down to the exceptional performances of Gary Roberts. The influential midfielder more than played his part as the Blues continued their march to the upper echelons of the National League North. The 31-year-old helped his side to maximum points in their three league games against the likes of Ashton United, Hereford and Alfreton Town. He almost single-handedly took all three points for the Blues against Alfreton – scoring a superb hat-trick, with the third of his goals coming in the dying seconds to snatch victory at the Swansway. That continued a barnstorming run that stretches back to the beginning of September in the league and after a shaky start, Chester and Roberts find themselves within one point of Chorley at the summit.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH- VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Bradley Saxton (York City)

Bradley Saxton has won Volunteer of the Month for York City in the National League North. The 19-year-old is a proud supporter of the club and has volunteered in the shop for some time. He is always willing to help out wherever he can, even becoming ‘Yorkie The Lion’ at a recent Open Day. In October, he excelled himself with his contribution to a special evening organised by the club for its supporters ‘Question of City Sport’. This was not only Bradley’s idea, but he spent many hours of his time preparing for the event, drafted all the questions, prepared and edited videos for ‘Mystery Guests’ and ‘What Happened Next?’ and looked after the technology on the night. Hosted by a former player, Jon Parkin and featuring teams of players and supporters, the event raised vital money for the club’s Academy and Foundation.

Altrincham Away In Third Qualifying Round Of The Buildbase FA Trophy

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Bradford (Park Avenue) will travel to Altrincham in the Third Qualifying Round of The Buildbase FA Trophy.

The tie will take place on Saturday 24th November 2018, after the draw which took place this lunchtime.

The full draw can be seen in full below.

1 Altrincham v Bradford (Park Avenue)
2 Blyth Spartans v Marske United
3 Alfreton Town v Farsley Celtic or Carlton Town
4 Spennymoor Town v Halesowen Town
5 Stamford v Barwell
6 Hereford v FC United of Manchester
7 Brackley Town v Nuneaton Borough
8 Stratford Town or Mickleover Sports v South Shields
9 Kidderminster Harriers v York City
10 Southport v Chester
11 Leamington v Witton Albion
12 Darlington v AFC Telford United
13 Ashton United v Boston United
14 AFC Mansfield or Pickering Town v Yaxley or Ramsbottom United
15 Basford United v Curzon Ashton
16 Lancaster City v Guiseley
17 Stockport County v Chorley
18 Stalybridge Celtic or Buxton v Newcastle Town or Workington
19 Lewes v Hemel Hempstead Town
20 Chipstead or Bedford Town v Worthing
21 Salisbury v East Thurrock United
22 Dorchester Town v Hungerford Town
23 Slough Town v Weston Super Mare
24 Brentwood Town or Poole Town v Dorking Wanderers
25 Weymouth or Street v St Albans City
26 Concord Rangers v Wealdstone
27 Truro City v Greenwich Borough
28 Chippenham Town v Wingate & Finchley
29 Beaconsfield Town v Leiston
30 Hampton & Richmond Borough v Billericay Town
31 Eastbourne Borough v Dartford
32 Welling United v Dulwich Hamlet
33 Woking v Folkestone Invicta
34 Basingstoke Town v Torquay United
35 Carshalton Athletic v Walton Casuals
36 Royston Town v Needham Market
37 Hayes & Yeading United v Brightlingsea Regent
38 Gloucester City v Biggleswade Town
39 Horsham v Bath City
40 Oxford City v Chelmsford City

Bradford Held By Curzon Ashton

Bradford (Park Avenue) claimed top spot in the Vanarama National League North despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Curzon Ashton.

The hosts were the first to try their luck, but Connor Hughes sent his long-range effort wide of the post.

They were then given a scare when Jamie Spencer threaded through to Jake Beesley, but the forward miscued his attempt to slide the ball into the path of Oli Johnson.

Supporters eventually saw a shot find the target when Curzon registered the first of the afternoon. Hughes wriggled away from Mark Ross and made an incisive dart into the box but fired into the midriff of Drench.

Bradford made an early substitution in the twelfth minute, introducing former Curzon winger Ben McKenna to the action in place of Johnson.

Lewis Knight received his first opportunity of the game when Conor Branson headed into his path, but his volley looped into the clutches of Nash stopper Cameron Mason.

The most clear-cut chances of the half both fell to Curzon frontman Niall Cummins, who failed to convert on two occasions.

He went one-on-one with Drench after latching on to a long punt but failed to find either side of the goalkeeper. A misdirected header from Nicky Clee then fell at his feet but he poked wide under pressure from a recovering Gianluca Havern.

Nicky Wroe found Beesley with a corner delivery, but the two sides headed into the break level after the forward directed his effort into a sea of bodies.

HALF-TIME: Curzon Ashton 0-0 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Bradford made a quick start to the second-half, carving Curzon open with two neat exchanges between Spencer and Knight.

McKenna then saw a shot blocked by Mason Fawns after being teed up by Beesley.

Wroe pulled the trigger from distance and came within a whisker of finding the top corner, seeing his effort narrowly rise over the woodwork.

The deadlock was eventually broken when Beesley connected with a free-kick delivery from Knight and directed a header past a helpless Mason.

Curzon, however, were back on level terms just four minutes later when Crankshaw latched on to Ryan Brooke’s pass and poked past Drench.

With the wind in their sails, the hosts began to pile bodies forward and Hughes was unlucky to see his strike from the left-hand side fly wide.

The affair became a cagey one as it progressed into its latter stages and neither side could find the spark required to unlock the opposition’s defence.

With three minutes remaining on the clock, chaos descended on the Tameside Stadium as all 22 players and staff came to blows. Bradford’s coaching staff and players alike were infuriated to see a foul on Spencer go unpunished and Curzon were incensed when the midfielder reacted by fouling Daniel Morton. Shane Killock, Spencer and Morton were all booked for their involvement in the fracas.

FULL-TIME: Curzon Ashton 1-1 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Curzon Ashton: Mason, Rowney, Fawns, Hunt (c), Morton, O’Leary, Crankshaw (Wall 90+5′), Ali, Cummins, Brooke, Hughes (Khoury 75′).

Unused substitutes: Merrill, Muir, Boyles.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Clee, Wroe (Hurst 69′), Killock (c), Havern, Spencer, Branson, Beesley, Johnson (McKenna 12’), Knight.

Unused substitutes: Toulson, Atkinson, Nowakowski.

Referee: Adam Herczog

Knight Signs New Contract

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Photo: John Rhodes

Bradford (Park Avenue) are delighted to announce that forward Lewis Knight has signed a new contract with the club.

The 20-year-old’s new deal will run until the end of the 2019/20 campaign.

A summer signing, the former Leeds United prodigy has made an impressive start to the season and has been crucial in Bradford’s ascent to second place in the Vanarama National League North.

He initially joined the club as a trialist, but Mark Bower moved quickly to secure his services after a string of outstanding displays during pre-season. The pacey marksman endured a lengthy wait to receive international clearance but eventually made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Stockport County in August.

Knight has been operating on the flank in recent weeks, registering several assists and helping the club move within four goals of top spot.

He had this to say after putting pen to paper on the new deal:

“I’m really happy to have signed a new contract. The past few weeks have been incredible, not only for myself but for the team. We now have to continue this fine form and make sure that we’re up near the top at the end of the season.”

Makeshift Bradford Side Beaten By Brighouse

A makeshift Bradford (Park Avenue) side suffered a heavy defeat to Brighouse Town in the second round of the West Riding County Cup.

Bradford’s starting eleven featured three scholars from the Horsfall College of Sport and four were named as substitutes.

It took just four minutes for Brighouse to take the lead, opening the scoring through Gabriel Johnson’s well-struck free-kick.

The lead was doubled shortly after when Marley Grant capped off a slick attacking move with a composed finish that left Jack Atkinson helpless.

Atkinson did, however, make a crucial save to deny Mohammed Ibrahim at point blank range after the forward connected with a cross from the right.

The Bradford stopper’s palms were then stung by Rhys Jenkinson, who struck low but was thwarted by the goalkeeper.

Bradford first opportunity of the evening fell to stand-in skipper Adam Nowakowski, who raced in to capitalise on a rebound when Matt Smith parried Ben McKenna’s strike. He managed to reach the ball ahead of a scrambling Smith, but the goalkeeper managed to beat away the effort.

The energetic hosts then added a third when Ibrahim fired into the bottom corner from the edge of the 18-yard box.

The third goal seemed to rally Bradford, who pulled one back just a minute after conceding. Danny Boshell delivered from the left and Nowakowski escaped his marker before steering a header past Smith.

Nowakowski almost netted his second mere minutes later but his curling shot failed to beat Smith.

Another opportunity then fell Nowakowski’s way when Chris Dawson found him with a defence-splitting pass, but the Bradford man lifted his effort into Smith’s clutches.

Alex Hurst found himself in a promising position after accelerating away from Sam Wright, but his shot from the left-hand side of the box was blocked by Kurt Harris.

Nowakowski remained a threat to the Brighouse backline and was unlucky to see his thunderous piledriver rattle the woodwork before bouncing on the line and being hacked clear.

HALF-TIME: Brighouse Town 3-1 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Brighouse had no intentions of simply defending their lead and continued to pile bodies forward after the break. Rhys Jenkinson surged forward down the right flank and pulled the trigger but blasted over the crossbar.

Town then added to their advantage when Jack Normanton latched on to Finn Donovan’s delivery and steered past Atkinson.

The confidence of the hosts was evident as they embarked on a hunt for a fifth goal immediately after scoring. Atkinson was forced to react quickly and palm away Harris’ flick before the ball was hacked clear by Joseph Ockerby.

Donovan lifted a cross in from the right and found substitute Ellis Nicholls, but his header found the wrong side of the post.

Bradford scholar Jordan Botwood was introduced in the second-half and drifted into space on the edge of the box but couldn’t find the target with his shot after being teed up by Lewis Knight.

Vill Powell’s side struck again with just two minutes remaining on the clock when James Hurtley headed into Ibrahim’s path, allowing him to fire past Atkinson from close-range.

FULL-TIME: Brighouse Town 5-1 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Brighouse Town: Smith, Jenkinson, Wright, Jones (Nicholls 45’), Harris, Hurtley, Grant (Donovan 60’), Heeley (c), Ibrahim, Johnson (Normanton 63’), Thomas.

Unused substitutes: Haigh, Robinson.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Atkinson, Toulson, Ridley, Rowntree, Holmes, Spencer (Knight 45’), McKenna (Botwood 60’), Boshell, Nowakowski (c), Dawson (Ockerby 66’), Hurst.

Unused substitutes: Garside, Mayfield.

Referee: Jamie Rhodes

Curzon Ashton Away Travel

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Due to a number of requests the club are looking at running a supporters coach to Curzon Ashton Saturday 10th November. Seats cost £10 for adults and £5 for under 16’s and pick up times are still to be confirmed.

To book your seat please contact Neil Fawcett on 07811 959003

Minstermen Mauled By Ruthless Bradford

Bradford (Park Avenue) swept ten-man York City aside at Bootham Crescent.

The opening ten minutes were cagey, and it was York that found their rhythm first. The visitors found themselves pinned in their own half and Shane Killock was forced to launch himself in front of a Jordan Burrow shot to keep the scores level.

Bradford, however, grew into the game and began asking questions of a disjointed York backline.

Jamie Spencer found Nicky Wroe with a perfectly executed lofted pass but the midfielder lifted his effort over the crossbar.

The Minstermen launched a swift counter-attack but Steven Drench was on-hand to palm Burrow’s flick away from danger at point blank range.

Drama then ensued at Bootham Crescent when York captain Joe Tait saw red. Jake Beesley fell to the ground inside the box after a tussle with Tait and after the defender received his marching orders, a penalty was awarded.

Beesley made no mistake from 12-yards, stepping up confidently and steering the ball past Adam Bartlett.

The lead was nearly doubled when Conor Branson connected with Lewis Knight’s free-kick delivery, but Bartlett held the header.

Branson then tried his luck with a long-range piledriver as the interval approached but his speculative effort sailed over the woodwork.

HALF-TIME: York City 0-1 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Bradford raced out of the blocks after the restart and it didn’t take long for the visitors to add to their advantage. Knight drilled a cross in from the right, enabling Beesley to volley into the roof of the net and pile misery on ten-man York.

Just three minutes later, Bradford netted a third when Spencer’s stunning long-range strike found the top corner in sensational fashion.

As York’s desire for a goal intensified, they piled bodies forward in desperate search of a way back into a game that seemed beyond them.

Adriano Moke pulled back to substitute Jon Parkin, but the robust forward’s shot was blocked by Killock.

The Minstermen eventually found a way through when Sean Newton curled into the top corner from a free-kick.

The hosts then went close through debutant Lewis Hawkins, who saw his thunderous effort tipped over the crossbar by the outstretched glove of Drench.

Bradford remained a threat despite their comfortable lead and Ben McKenna saw a shot blocked after firing into a sea of bodies.

McKenna then notched Bradford’s fourth, firing into the top corner after Knight accelerated away from Allan and squared to the substitute.

Alex Hurst looked set to add a fifth as the full-time whistle approached, but his shot was blocked by Allan after weaving his way past two defenders.

FULL-TIME: York City 1-4 Bradford (Park Avenue)

York City: Bartlett, Law, Newton, Allan, Tait (c), Griffiths (Langstaff 78’), Harris (Bencherif 27’), Moke, Burrow, Wright (Parkin 45’), Hawkins.

Unused substitutes: Ferguson, Dyer.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Clee, Wroe, Killock (c), Havern, Spencer (Hurst 84’), Branson, Beesley, Johnson (McKenna 51’), Knight (Nowakowski 83’).

Unused substitutes: Toulson, Atkinson.

Referee: Scott Simpson

Attendance: 2, 289 (198 Bradford supporters)

HT: 0-1

Match Preview: York City vs. Bradford (Park Avenue)

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Photo: John Rhodes

Bradford (Park Avenue) face York City today, who head into the fixture after suffering back-to-back defeats.

Bradford’s Yorkshire counterparts were swept aside by Spennymoor Town in midweek, just days after losing to AFC Telford United.

Mark Bower will be hoping to face a deflated York side, who trail Bradford by eight points in twelfth place. He is a well-known figure among York supporters after enjoying two loan spells at Bootham Crescent during his playing career. It will be the second consecutive game to pit the Bradford boss against one his former clubs following the visit of Darlington in midweek.

The two sides last met in January and the Citizens came out on top thanks to strikes from veteran forward Jon Parkin and winger Amari Morgan-Smith. 

Bower will be hoping for a different result today but is aware that York boss Sam Collins may ring the changes after recent defeats:

“I know they’ve tinkered with formations this season and after losing to Spennymoor they’ll probably be looking to change things.

“It’s a great one for our lads. It’s great to go to a club like York, where there should be a decent crowd in, and play with no pressure. We can go and enjoy ourselves, express ourselves, and if we play the way we’re capable of, we give ourselves a chance of getting a result.”

GUIDE TO THE OPPONENTS:

The Gaffer:

Sam Collins

The 41-year-old was handed the reigns following a spell as caretaker manager. A former centre-back, he made over 200 appearances for Hartlepool United and also represented Huddersfield Town, Bury, Port Vale, Hull City and Swindon Town. Collins also enjoyed a spell with Bradford City as a coach, where he worked to develop the club’s young professionals. 

One To Watch:

Sean Newton

The 30-year-old is the club’s captain and is an integral part of Sam Collins’ squad. A versatile defender, he joined the club from Wrexham in 2017 following a successful loan spell. He began his career with Chester City and has represented the likes of Droylsden, AFC Telford United, Stockport County, Lincoln City and Notts County throughout his career. 

Parking In The Cemetery

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Following complaints by users of the cemetery Bradford Council have asked the club to ask supporters to refrain from parking in the cemetery. Visitors of the cemetery have complained about the language/loud voices and banging of car doors while they are visiting relatives.

Going forward the Abb Scot Lane gates will be locked and stewards will be placed on the Cemetery Road gate to prevent supporters from parking in there.

The club would like to encourage supporters to use the car park at the Park Road end of the ground which can be accessed from Cemetery Road behind the main stand. Parking in the car park is £2 or free for season ticket holders.

Thank for you co-operation.