Bradford (Park Avenue) returned to winning ways with a comprehensive victory against Thackley AFC.

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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Late goal denies Avenue at Ossett

Bradford (Park Avenue) fell to their first pre-season friendly defeat when they conceded a late header from Jack Cowgill to give Ossett United a dramatic victory.

The visitors broke the deadlock with a magnificent effort from Trialist C before Elliott Harrison equalised on the stroke of half-time with a well-executed lob into the top corner from outside the box.

With time ticking away, it looked like the game would end as a draw, only for Cowgill to nod home from close range to the delight of the majority 200 spectators inside Ingfield.

The Avenue took a deserved lead after a bright opening. Despite watching a couple of headers from Adam Nowakowski failing to trouble goalkeeper Max Dearnley, Mark Bower’s men made their pressure count. A loose pass from Luke Blackburn was picked up Trialist C, and his impressive footwork allowed him to unleash a stunning right-footed strike into the top corner from 20 yards.

A few minutes later, the Avenue nearly doubled their advantage with another well-worked move. Nicky Clee, playing in an unfamiliar left-back role, spotted the run of Brad Dockerty at the back-post with a superb delivery, and the young winger timed his volley to perfection, but skimmed the top of the bar from 14 yards.

Just before the half-time whistle, an Ossett United corner caused problems amongst the Bradford defence. A solid header from Mark Ross was collected by the unmarked Harrison on the edge of the box, who controlled the ball and fired a right-footed looping effort past Dan Atkinson into the roof of the net.

The second half saw plenty of changes for both teams. The visitors had a new starting eleven apart from Trialist A who played the full 90 minutes. 
With few notable goalscoring opportunities for the first 30 minutes, the game started to open up a bit more. Wayne Benn, a former Avenue favourite, watched on from the dugout as left-back Cameron Clark had a couple of chances on goal, one brushing the post from 25 yards and Cowgill poking an effort wide from a corner.

With five minutes remaining, it was Cowgill involved from a corner. The tall defender rose above his marker to nod the ball home past the Avenue’s substitute goalkeeper. 

The away side tried to respond with a quick equaliser as young Academy product Jamie Lyons was set free, but with the goalkeeper off his line trying to narrow the angle, the striker looked to curl the ball around him only for his left-footed strike to be  easily saved from 20 yards.

Ossett United:

Dearnley, Blackburn (Connolly 45), Clark, Cowgill, Viggars, Cass (Whittaker 16), Harrison (Ripley 45), Hogg (Teasdale 45), Greaves (Chipamaunga 65),  Guest (Stockdil 45), Green (Haswell 65)

Goals: Harrison (40), Cowgill (85)

BPA First half:

Atkinson, Ross, Nowakowski, Havern, Trialist A, Hibbs, Clee, Trialist B, Dockerty, Trialist C, Johnson

Second half:

Atkinson (Sub 70), Trialist A, Toulson, Trialist D, Trialist E, Trialist F, Trialist G, Marriott, Knight, Trialist H, Lyons.

Goal: Trialist C (18)

Attendance: 200

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Match Report: Silsden AFC 1-2 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Attendance: 139

In the first pre-season friendly of the 2020-21 campaign, Bradford (Park Avenue) narrowly defeated neighbours Silsden AFC at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium.The visitors took the lead just before the break when the impressive Isaac Marriott dribbled 50 yards but he was brought down inside the box, just before he was about to shoot. From the spot, Oli Johnson sent Silsden’s goalkeeper Alfie Drake the wrong way to make 1-0 at half-time.

Shortly after the restart, young Academy product Jamie Lyon doubled the Avenue’s advantage with a well-taken left footed finish from the edge of the box, following good work by a couple of Bradford trialists. Then, Danny Forrest’s side halved the deficit with a powerful header from Shaun Airey but, despite a couple of chances in the final few minutes, the National League outfit held on.

The Sils could’ve taken an early lead as winger Chris Wademan capitalised on a defensive mistake from a Trialist, but his shot flew over the bar from 12 yards.Mark Bower’s side started to gain some momentum, with Marriott and Nicky Clee looking to orchestrate opportunities from the middle of the park. Clee, with his usual great footwork, opened up space to fire an effort on goal, only for Drake to save well with his feet. Learning from former Avenue striker Forrest for the Sils, Antony Brown tried to copy what Clee had just done at the other end of the pitch, but debutant Dan Atkinson in the Bradford goal managed to catch his strike from close range.

With half-time approaching and Atkinson diving at the feet to deny Wademan the opening goal, Marriott showed his class. The new signing dribbled past a few players to find himself in a position to put his side in the lead. But, the midfielder was fouled by Lewis Morgan and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Johnson, wearing number nine, calmly slotted the ball into the corner to break the deadlock.

With a brand new team for the second half, the Avenue started brightly and following some good work by two trialists down the left wing, the ball found its way to Lyons. The striker who featured in the first team last season, curled a lovely left-footed strike past Drake from 12 yards.The home side also made changes to their starting eleven, and as the weather continued to be a challenge for both teams, the Sils scored from a corner. Defender Airey rose above his mark to nod the ball home from six yards.The hosts pushed forward to equalise and nearly snatched a dramatic draw, only to be denied by the returning Mark Ross who was alert and cleared the ball off the line to give the Avenue a narrow victory.

The next pre-season friendly for the Avenue is on Tuesday 25th August, away at Campion AFC.

#UTA

First Half Team: 

Dan Atkinson, A Trialist, Mitch Lund, A Trialist, Matty Downing, A Trialist, Isaac Marriott, Nicky Clee, Lewis Knight, Ollie Johnson, Brad Dockerty 

Second Half Team: 

Jacob/Atkinson, A  Trialist, Mark Ross, Luca Havern, Ryan Toulson, A Trialist, Adam Nowakowski,  Jake Hibbs, Jamie Lyons (Danny Boshell 60), A Trialist, A Trialist 

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MATCH REPORT: Bradford (Park Avenue) 2-1 Chester

Bradford (Park Avenue)’s hopes of completing an unlikely and miraculous great escape were given a massive boost as they beat promotion hopeful’s Chester 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Horsfall Stadium.

It had been a long time coming for an Avenue side who hadn’t won a game since December, and had been on the losing end of some very unfair results over the last couple of months of the season.

This time though, Bradford were finally rewarded for what was a terrific performance against one of the league’s best sides. It was a very cagey opening to the game for both sides, with the wind certainly playing a factor in that. At some points, you didn’t even know where the ball was going to land due to the sheer strength of the wind, but fortunately, it seemed that Avenue were the ones who were able to adapt best to the wintery conditions.

Because of the conditions, it always felt like the first goal was going to be vital and it was the Avenue who grabbed it. Tom Clare’s original strike from a superb Ryan Toulson cross struck the post. A melee then erupted on the goal line, and no one really seemed to know where the ball was. Eventually the ball looked like it struck Clare, seemingly off an attempted clearance by one of the Chester defenders and fell into the net.

Ugly goal or not, Mark Bower won’t have cared and it meant his side entered the break 1-0 ahead. However, it was important to not get carried away as Avenue also took a 1-0 lead into half time in the reverse fixture earlier this season and lost the game. It looked like it was going to be a repeat of that as Chester equalised on 50 minutes, Matty Waters scoring directly from a corner after Nicholson was unable to get a hold of the ball.

From then on, both sides enjoyed their fair share of possession and whoever got the third goal was surely going to win the game at this point. Luck this time was on Bradford’s side as it was they who got the all important third goal, and this time it was captain Oli Johnson nodding home after a long throw in from Lewis Knight.

Chester put a lot of pressure on the Avenue defence as the game reached it’s latter stages, but the Bradford defence held firm with a man-of-the-match performance from centre back Mitch Lund.

The result now leaves the Avenue 13 points from safety, but with plenty of confidence going into a mid week clash against Kings Lynn and a huge game next weekend against fellow relegation rivals Curzon Ashton.

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MATCH REPORT: Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-2 Gloucester City

Gloucester City eased their relegation fears with a huge 2-1 victory away at Bradford (Park Avenue) in a result which leaves Avenue resigned to their fate at the bottom of the National League North. 

Despite Bradford dominating possession for the majority of the game, most of the clearcut chances fell the vistors way with Bradford unable to muster up many opportunities of their own. Defensive fragilities have been the downfall of Avenue this season and it reared its ugly head once more as the Avenue defence were unable to deal with a long ball played into their box, the ball then fell nicely to Mensah from a header and he volleyed into the bottom corner leaving Nicholson no chance. 

Gloucester then had chances to double their lead. Again, more defensive mistakes from Avenue as a Hughes back pass was far too weak and allowed Jackson to race through on goal but his shot was well saved by Nicholson. 

The hosts started putting more pressure on as the second half got underway but it was the visitors who grabbed the vital second goal from a free kick as Brunt curled the ball into the net from 20 yards out. 

Bradford rescued a goal back through Hughes in the 67th minute, and had more chances to grab an unlikely equaliser, the best chance falling to Lewis Knight inside the box but his powerful effort struck the post and somehow fell into Maher’s hands. 

The loss now means that Avenue sit at the bottom, a massive 15 points from safety with time unfortunately running out as just 12 games remain in the season.

SUMMARY:

Bradford (Park Avenue)  1 

Hughes 67 

Gloucester City  2 

Mensah 24 

Brunt 56 

Attendance: 296 

Star Man: Jackson 

Bradford (Park Avenue) (4-3-3): Nicholson, Toulson, Lund, Nowakowski (Johnson 57), Hughes, Priestley, Hall (Hurst 64), Hibbs, Clare (Lyons 84), Knight, Clee (C) 

SUBS NOT USED: Green, Boshell 

Gloucester City (4-3-3): Maher, James, Brunt, Pennell, Daly, Thomas, Robert (Kotwica 65), Hanks (Hainault 90), Jackson, McClure, Mensah (Allen 81) 

SUBS NOT USED: Johnstone, Ebbutt 

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MATCH REPORT: Southport 3-3 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Despite leading twice, Bradford (Park Avenue) had to fight back on Saturday afternoon to earn a 3-3 draw away at Southport.

Both teams felt the ire of a blustery and very windy day, but maybe that was what contributed to the six goal thriller. Avenue manager Mark Bower wanted this fixture to be the game that kick started a great escape for his side that are currently languishing at the bottom of the National League North table, and they got off to the perfect start.

Lewis Knight’s inswinging corner on 15 minutes evaded everybody in the box and swung into the net directly off the post. It was a deserved opener for an Avenue side who had dominated the early stages of the game and gifted Knight his fifth goal of the season,

Both teams then had their opportunities to score in what was a very topsy-turvy affair. Resolute defending from the Avenue backline saw Astles and Sampson both having strong shots blocked, before Avenue had a glorious chance of their own to extend the lead — the ever present Tom Clare forced a mistake from Astles and raced through on goal, but the center back made sure to recover from his mistake and blocked Clare’s goalbound effort.

Avenue would’ve been looking forward to entering the break leading the game, and it looked like that was going to be the case until Southport equalised just on the stroke of half time through George Newell, who headed home past Nicholson after a long throw caused the Avenue defence problems.

Bradford didn’t let that phase them though, and returning out of half time, they once again looked the better of the two teams and it didn’t take them long to again take the lead. Tom Clare, who had a brilliant game for the Avenue, left some of the Southport defenders for dead with a magnificent touch and turn, before curling the ball past Hanford into the top right corner.

Much like earlier though, it was a case of Avenue not being able to keep hold of their lead. Just moments after making it 2-1, they were drawn back level as Brad Bauress slotted the ball past Nicholson.

Then what was a once promising game turned to complete disaster for Bradford as Southport took the lead for the first time on the 65th minute with Newell grabbing his second goal of the game, heading home from an Astles cross which left Nicholson stranded.

Avenue looked bewildered by the sudden turnaround of the game, and Southport had plenty of chances to kill the game off with Newell and Woods both having chances to extend their lead and end any hopes of an Avenue comeback.

Southport were then made to rue the missed chances as Oli Johnson assisted Billy Priestley to level the scores at 3-3. It was superb work down the right from Johnson, who sent in an inch perfect cross which was met by Priestley who headed the ball into the net with Hanford this time being the goalkeeper to be left stranded.

Momentum then swiftly changed and it was Avenue who were back on top looking to grab the winner with Lewis Knight having a wonderful opportunity to score but scuffed his shot wide.

Avenue were then reduced to 10 men in stoppage time as newest signing Stelios Demetriou was sent his marching orders for taking down Newell who was through on goal.

Despite being reduced to ten men, though, it was Avenue who had the final opportunity of the game, and it was oh so close. A miscue from Astles led Clare to finding himself through on goal, albeit at a tight position, he managed to get a shot away but it struck the outside of the right post in which was the final kick of the game.

In what was a rollercoaster of a game, both teams left with a point a piece, but both teams will also have been frustrated at not walking away with all three.

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MATCH REPORT: Altrincham 2-0 Bradford (Park Avenue)

It became seven defeats in eight for an Avenue side falling increasingly into relegation as playoff chasing Altrincham deservedly ran out 2-0 winners at Moss Lane.

Avenue hoped to lean on the reverse fixture between the two sides — a 2-0 victory at Horsfall Stadium — but Altrincham came out a completely different outfit compared to the side that the Avenue saw just six weeks ago.

But it was a case of the same old for Avenue, as once again, they conceded in the first minute of the game. That makes it three times in their last five that they have conceded in the first five minutes with manager Mark Bower admitting that the slow starts are unacceptable as it leaves them “chasing the game”.

Avenue never really gained focus from the first whistle, and 45 seconds in, after some brilliant work down the right hand side of the Avenue area from Jordan Hulme, he managed to whip in a pitch perfect cross to Josh Hancock, who kept his composure to slot the ball home and inflict another disastrous start on the visitors.

It took a long time for Bradford to wake up and get any kind of foothold in the game as Altrincham dominated possession. Nicky Clee had a shot that went just over, before another brilliant chance fell his way.

Ryan Hall played a wonderful diagonal ball to new signing Stelios Demetriou, Demetriou then sent in a ball which looked begging to be slotted home, it landed to Clee at the back post but unfortunately he couldn’t get it under control and the ball hit his hand leading to an Altrincham free kick.

The first half then got even worse for Bower’s side as Altrincham went two ahead, this time through Jordan Jones heading home from another Jordan Hulme assist.

Coming out of half time, Avenue’s performance steadily improved but they didn’t do too much to test the Altrincham goalkeeper. Tom Clare came on for Ryan Hall on 55 minutes and did cause some problems for the Altrincham defence. The best chance of the half came when Ryan Hurst raced into the box from the left and had his shot well saved by Thompson, the rebound then fell high to Clare but he couldn’t quite get enough on the ball to force it in.

Altrincham looked happy to sit on the ball and not do too much more as time ran out, while Avenue struggled to do much with the ball when they did have it.

This result leaves Avenue falling further and further to the bottom of the table with relegation looking more likely as the weeks pass by while Altrincham continue their march towards the playoffs.

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Match Report: Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-2 Brackley Town

Brackley continued their promotion push with a 2-1 victory away at Bradford (Park Avenue) in a game which confines Avenue further to the bottom of the table. 

It wasn’t the best of games to watch. It was a cagey opening with Avenue dominating most of the possession in the first half. Chances were at a premium, though, with neither side being able to muster up anything too concrete. 

The best chances of the half fell to Hall and Armson, but neither were able to put their side into the ascendency.  

After a period of Avenue domination at the start, Brackley soon found themselves getting more and more into the game and they were rewarded by taking the lead just before half time. It was a sloppy goal to concede from an Avenue point of view but Ndlovu wouldn’t have cared, back heeling the ball into the net for his 11th goal in 9 games. 

The second half was much like the first, very cagey with not much to split the two teams. Brackley, though, managed to kill the game with a 2nd goal through Armson. Tom Clare managed to grab a consolation for Avenue late on, but it was too little too late for the hosts as Brackley managed to extend their unbeaten league run to 11 games. 

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Match Report: Hereford 1 – 1 Bradford

Avenue returned from Edgar Street with a single bitter-sweet point yesterday following a superb performance that was only thwarted by some superb goal keeping.

The game didn’t start out as well as it was set to go on however, as Pope’s deflected shot from outside the box trickled in beyond the reach of a stranded Joe Green, Hereford taking the lead inside of 5 minutes.

Not long after Johnson had a chance to level the scores as he was played through by Adam Nowakowski, but it wasn’t to be as his resulting shot went wide.

Green was then called into action to save an Alex Bray effort after the Bradford defence failed to close the midfielder down.

Hereford’s early lead was quickly put to an end on 19 minutes. It was Avenue captain Nicky Clee who stepped up and scored his second goal in as many games, reading a loose ball in the box to smash in a half volley.

Having gotten a taste for goal, Clee received the ball inside his own half and, spotting the Hereford stopper off his line, took a shot from 50 yards that only missed by a fine margin.

Half Time: Hereford 1 – 1 Bradford

Having dominated possession and play in the first half, Avenue came out to find Hereford’s resolve had strengthened. Assisted by a strong wind the Bulls would have the better of chances in the early part of the second half.

Sodiende used his superior pace to break through the Bradford back line, going one on one with an on rushing Green, but his chipped shot was too high. Just clearing the bar to the shock of the Hereford supporters who had already cheered in unfounded celebration.

The Hereford number 10 had his best chance to find the net as the Bulls won a penalty following a miss kicked clearance from Lund. Sodiende latched onto the loose ball and drove forward into the box to be brought down by a last ditch tackle from Priestley, who received a yellow for his efforts.

Again, the Hereford supporters were ready to cheer, but it turned to groans as Sodiende’s effort hit the bar, and despite coming back across the face of the goal, it went out for a goal kick much to the relief of the travelling green army.

A 70th minute substitution saw Lewis Knight inject some much needed pace to the Avenue side, and he quickly had an impact, setting up Oli Johnson with a low cross, but Will Henry saved the shot before turning away a curled effort from Lund.

Bradford continued to apply pressure as Knight received the ball in his own half, racing past a stranded Hereford defence to produce an unbelievable save from man of the match, Henry.

Full Time: Hereford 1 – 1 Bradford

Attendance: 1586

Teams:

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MATCH REPORT: Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Boston United

In an entertaining duel at the Horsfall Stadium, Bradford (Park Avenue) fell 2-1 to Boston United in a result that sees them now falling deeper and deeper into the bottom of the Vanarama National League North table. 

There was no place in which you could fault the effort and desire of the Avenue players, who gave it their all on the pitch, but once again it was the same story that has haunted them all season in which they just weren’t able to take their chances. 

It was the worst possible start, though, for Bradford as they fell behind after just 45 seconds after the always dangerous Jordan Thewlis managed to slip in Dom Knowles, who showed his composure by slotting the ball comfortbaly underneath Joe Green to give his side the lead. 

From then on, it was always going to be an uphill battle for an Avenue side, who, although they are playing well, are desperately struggling for points. Avenue manager Mark Bower was furious when his side wasn’t awarded a penalty after Tom Clare looked to have been fouled in the box and the Avenue the found themselves further behind after former player Simon Ainge managed to strike the ball home after Green wasn’t able to gather the ball from the inswinging corner.  

Avenue didn’t let that finish them off, though, as they got themselves straight back into the game and it was Nicky Clee who brought one back for the hosts with an absolutely terrific half volley which Boston keeper, Peter Crook, simply could do nothing about.  

And then soon after, Tom Clare latched onto a fantastic through ball from new signing Jake Hibbs, but his effort was remarkably saved by Crook who managed to touch the ball onto the post. 

Both sides returned from half time, and although it was a feisty affair with strong challenges coming in from left and right, not much happened in regards with the ball until the Avenue started piling on the pressure late in the game, but somehow after chances with Oli Johnson and Adam Nowakowski, they somehow couldn’t find the net and the Avenue undeservedly fell to another defeat. 

The result leaves Avenue bottom of the table, although a win wouldn’t have moved them up anyway, and next week they travel to Hereford to take on 16th placed Hereford United. 

BRADFORD (PARK AVENUE): Green, Toulson (Lund, 82). Staunton, Nowakowski, Hughes, Priestley, Hall, HIbbs, Clare (Johnson, 67), Hurst, Clee 

SUBS NOT USED: Nicholson, Marriott 

BOSTON UNITED: Crook, Penny, Whittle (Jackson, 46), Platt, Ainge, Garner, Woolford, Abbott, Knowles, Thewlis (Wafula, 90), Wright (Rollins, 83) 

SUBS NOT USED: Southwell, Willis 

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