Bradford (Park Avenue) made it back-to-back away victories to open their NPL East campaign, beating Stocksbridge Park Steels 2-1 at Bracken Moor Stadium, on Wednesday evening.
The Avenue got off to the best possible start as Luke Parkin fired them ahead inside four minutes. Adam Haw was played through by Ben Andreucci, but saw his left-footed effort well saved by Stocksbridge goalkeeper Samuel Orioye. The rebound fell kindly to Parkin, who made no mistake, firing a perfectly placed left-footed finish into the bottom corner.
The hosts quickly regained their composure and enjoyed spells of pressure throughout the first half, with the most notable coming just after the quarter-hour mark. Declan Lambton, who would prove to be a key figure for the Avenue, raced off his line to deal with a long ball but was unable to judge it correctly. The goalkeeper was let off the hook, however, as Stocksbridge forward Thomas Marshall failed to get a shot away after rounding the Avenue stopper.
Moments later, Stocksbridge came close again when Alex O’Connor’s curling effort from the outside of the area grazed the crossbar from outside the penalty area.
With the Avenue ahead at the break, Craig Elliott’s side began the second half, looking to double their advantage. In the 52nd minute, a dangerous cross from Charlie Winfield found its way through to Parkin at the back post, but his effort was sliced wide of the target.
The game entered a frantic spell on the hour mark. A flowing move down the right flank from the home side, saw striker Josiah Dyer emerge one-on-one with Lambton, but the Avenue stopper produced a fantastic close-range save, throwing himself at the ball to deny the Stocksbridge forward.
A minute later, the home side were awarded a penalty. From a set-piece, the referee deemed that a player in yellow had been impeded and pointed to the spot. Up stepped Dyer, who had converted a penalty on his debut in the Steels’ previous game, but the striker was denied once again, as the impressive Lambton produced another well-timed dive to keep out the spot-kick.
In the 73rd minute, the home side eventually found their equaliser. After Lambton was adjudged to have picked up the ball with his hands a second time in his penalty area, the linesman flagged and the referee awarded an indirect free-kick. The ball was laid into the path of Connor Smythe, who fired a well-placed effort into the top corner, to level the score.
Undeterred, the Avenue quickly got back to business, with a series of inspired substitutions from manager Craig Elliott helping his side seize the initiative and retake the lead. Eight minutes from time, the fresh legs of Louie Chorlton caused problems for the Steels’ defence. His powerful cross was met emphatically by fellow substitute Connor Shanks, who headed home right in front of the jubilant travelling supporters to ensure all three points would be taken back to Bradford.
After a hard-fought battle at Bracken Moor, the Green Army now face another quick turnaround as the Avenue now switch their attention to the Emirates FA Cup. Craig Elliott’s side make the trip to Mossley on Saturday for a Preliminary Round tie at Seel Park, looking to carry the momentum from another battling away victory into another important fixture.
Match Report by Ste Grimshaw
Stocksbridge Park Steels: O’Rioye, Charlesworth, Sutton, Smythe (C) (Lee 89′), Bumhira (Dyer 86′), Oglesby, Spooner (Ward 60′), O’Connor, Dunne (Musgrave-Dore 60′), Dyer, Marshall (Poole 75′).
Goalscorers: Smythe (73′)
Bradford (Park Avenue): Lambton, Hassan-Smith (Chorlton 80′), Winfield, Brown, Duxbury, Ible, Moke (Shanks 65′), Ekpolo, Andreucci (Fox 73′), Haw (Carver 66′), Parkin (Abbott 73′).
Goalscorers: Parkin (4′), Shanks (82′).
Attendance: 311