The visitors started well, and despite failing to find the net after efforts from Matty Downing and Luca Havern, they eventually took the lead just before the interval thanks to a superb individual effort from Academy product Jamie Lyons. The young striker cut inside onto his favoured left-foot and drilled an excellent strike into the bottom corner from 16 yards.
After the break, both sides made several changes. With few opportunities, Avenue doubled their advantage after the hour mark. Substitute Lewis Knight was set free on goal and he slotted the ball past Luke Wilson from 12 yards.
Soon after, Knight got his second with a tap-in following good work from the excellent Brad Dockerty. The winger ran towards goal and unselfishly spotted the run of Knight, who put the ball into an unguarded net.
Bradford scored a fourth when Knight secured his hat-trick with an exquisite free-kick from 20 yards.
A minute later, Adam Muller nodded home from a corner for the home side. Straight from the restart, Mark Bower’s side went on the attack and a cross from the right wing fell to the feet of Dockerty to give Avenue a comfortable win.
Thackley AFC:
Wilson, Marsh, Murphy, Whiteley, Hargreaves, Rothel, Mitchell, Scaroni, Matthews, Grech-Brooksbank, Haigh.
Subs: Hunter, Holroyd, Faulding, Underdown, Butcher, Basi, Muller, Sibanda, Jones, Poole.
Goal: Muller (88)
BPA:First half:
Atkinson, Trialist, Lund, Havern, Downing, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Dockerty, Lyons.
Second half:
Atkinson (Trialist), Trialist, Ross, Lund, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist (Dockerty), Hibbs, Trialist (Lyons) Knight, Trialist.
Goals: Lyons (42); Knight (62), (76), (87); Dockerty (88).
Our next outing is against Liversedge on Tuesday. Please note that this game is currently being played behind closed doors so please don’t travel to the game. If this changes we will update our social media platforms as soon as we hear.
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