Bradford (Park Avenue) crashed out of the FA Cup with a frustrating home defeat to Morpeth Town.

Riccardo Calder had equalised after Joe Walton opened the scoring, but new signing Dan Sweeney missed a crucial chance, with Sean Reid firing the visitors in front moments later.

Josh Heaton was sent off for two yellow cards just after the hour, and Reid fired his second from the resulting free-kick to sink Bradford. Walton added his second late on before Brad Dockerty – who twice struck the woodwork – added a consolation, his third goal in three games.

Avenue were afforded a great chance to open the scoring with less than five minutes on the clock, as the referee adjudged Morpeth to have played a backpass, but from the indirect free-kick Calder could only fire the ball over the bar.

And with their first foray into Bradford’s third, the visitors took the lead through Sean Reid.

Captain Wayne Phillips played in Liam Henderson, who controlled the ball and managed to hold off both Mitch Lund and Rhys Taylor, before finding Joe Walton who finished confidently into the bottom corner.

Calder was causing a lot of problems down the left, and he got on the end of a long ball, his near post effort well saved by Dan Lowson.

Moments later, Avenue struck the woodwork through the in-form Brad Dockerty. He picked up a pass from Marcus Wood and worked some space in the area, his low, left-footed strike cannoning off the foot of the post.

And finally all Avenue’s possession and pressure paid off as Calder levelled the scores on the end of a fantastic move.

Bradford advanced down the left and the full-back played a brilliant one-two with Sweeney before finishing brilliantly into the bottom corner with a powerful finish.

Sweeney should have doubled the advantage with Avenue on top, Alex Hurst doing brilliantly down the left before cutting back for the Solihull loanee, but he planted his first time finish wide of the post from just six yards out.

Just three minutes later, Bradford were made to pay as Morpeth regained the lead. Sean Taylor picked up a loose ball on the right and delivered a teasing cross to the back post which Reid powered into the net with his head.

Avenue had the first sniff of a second half which started much scrappier than the first, Lewis Knight latching on to Hurst’s ball over the top, but a good tackle from Chris Reid denied the shooting opportunity.

And from the resulting free kick, Reid brilliantly fired the ball into the top corner, giving Taylor absolutely no chance.

The goal and sending off killed off Avenue’s hopes of a comeback, with quality dropping as Marcus Law threw players on chasing a goal.

Dockerty struck the post for the second time with just over five minutes to play, getting in on the right with his shot across goal tipped onto the woodwork, before Ryan Cresswell completely fluffed the rebound.

The visitors then struck the frame of the goal themselves, as Taylor beat away Shabz Mohammed’s free kick, with Jack Foalle heading the loose ball onto the bar.

Walton added his second and his side’s fourth with two minutes to play, taking aim from range with his shot possibly taking a deflection which wrong-footed Taylor and saw the ball nestle in the bottom corner.

Pretty much straight from kick-off, Avenue pulled one back, Dockerty doing well on the left before angling a shot into the corner across the goal with his weaker foot, but it was a mere consolation.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Taylor, Bazeley, Calder, Wood (c, Holmes 67), Lund, Heaton, Knight (Cresswell 74), Marriott (Johnson 69), Sweeney, Hurst, Dockerty

Subs not used: Gibbons, Bennett, Moran

Goals: Calder (25), Dockerty (89)

Booked: Heaton (55), Lund (86), Hurst (90+1)

Sent off: Heaton (63)

Morpeth Town: Lowson, Forster, C.Reid (Mohammed 55), Phillips (c), J.Henderson, Turner, Taylor, Hodgson, L.Henderson (Foalle 72), S.Reid (McKeown 78), Walton

Subs not used: Harmison, Potter, Giles, Wilson

Goals: Walton (9, 88), S.Reid (35, 65)

Referee: Matt Scholes

Attendance: 217

Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes

A late equaliser from Adam Boyes denied Bradford (Park Avenue) a second win of the season against Spennymoor Town.

Former Bradford striker Boyes netted in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time to cancel out Brad Dockerty’s opener – his second in two games.

Avenue were left to rue missed chances as Lewis Knight could have had a hat-trick, but visiting goalkeeper Matthew Gould was in fine form.

Josh Heaton was brought straight into a line-up which also included a returning Rhys Taylor and Dockerty, following his goal off the bench last time out at Boston.

Avenue started quickly, winning a corner within 13 seconds, but it was the visitors who had the first attempt at goal, Andrew Johnson cutting inside, but his curled effort flashed past the post.

Law’s side were picking up a lot of loose balls and sloppy moments from the Spennymoor midfield, and one of those allowed them to grab the opener.

Marcus Wood picked up a loose ball and drove forward, waiting for the perfect moment to draw the defender out and slip in Dockerty, who just about managed to squeeze his shot under Gould and into the back of the net.

New signing Heaton was making a clear difference at the back, and he was called upon to make a key block as Johnson latched onto a long throw, with the ball looking destined to ripple the back of the net.

Then it was Taylor, returning after sitting out two games with a calf injury, who needed to be at his best, doing brilliantly to tip over as James Roberts struck powerfully towards the top corner from a tight angle.

Spennymoor started to see more of the ball but couldn’t get through a stern Avenue formation, and it was actually the hosts who should have extended their lead just before the break.

The hosts got a corner cleared and Wood played a brilliant ball over the top to Lewis Knight. His touch was excellent to take him through one-on-one with Gould, but his low finish was weak and was denied by the goalkeeper’s outstretched leg.

And Gould foiled Knight once more just after the interval. Avenue broke in numbers, led again by Wood, and he slipped in the winger whose powerful strike was acrobatically tipped over the bar by the visiting goalkeeper.

Knight was left disappointed though when he finally beat Gould, latching onto a brilliant Alex Hurst pass, and an excellent first touch saw him get past the goalkeeper, but he could only find the side netting with his finish from a tight angle.

Moments later the visitors came oh so close to drawing level, as Andrew Johnson met a corner with a thumping header which rattled the crossbar.

Taylor then had to be alert to tip away Johnson’s effort and the ball almost fell for Boyes, but it got stuck under his feet and Avenue scrambled it away.

The goalkeeper made a good double save denying Roberts and Johnson, before the pick of the bunch with 10 minutes left on the clock.

A shot had come in from Johnson and substitute Gavin Cogdon flicked it on from inside the six yard box, but Taylor reacted phenomenally to tip the ball over the bar.

Bradford were clinging on as Spennymoor had a huge number of late corners, Taylor tipping over from Nathan Buddle, and the sickening equaliser eventually came in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

A high ball in was headed down by Robert Ramshaw, and Boyes was unmarked six yards from goal, free to prod the ball past a helpless Taylor and rescue a point for the visitors.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Taylor, Bazeley, Calder, Wood (c), Lund, Heaton, Knight (Holmes 65), Marriott, Dockerty (Johnson 62), Hurst, Headley (Cresswell 73)

Subs not used: Gibbons, Bennett

Goal: Dockerty (11)

Booked: Bazeley (30), Johnson (83)

Spennymoor Town: Gould, Williams (Hibbs 50), Brogan, Chandler, Buddle, Curtis (c), McKenna, Ramshaw, Boyes, Roberts (Cogdon 76), Johnson

Subs not used: Mason, Atkinson, Webb

Goal: Boyes (90+5)

Referee: Andy Sykes

Attendance: 402

Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes

Bradford (Park Avenue) fell to a third successive defeat despite significant improvement away at in-form Boston.

Marcus Law’s men were the better side for much of the afternoon, defending admirably and creating the best chances, but two goals in two second half minutes led to an unfortunate defeat.

Brad Abbott and Jordan Thewlis capitalised to hand Boston their third win in four, substitute Brad Dockerty giving Avenue hope by pulling one back with six minutes to play, but the visitors just couldn’t find another goal to come away with what would have been a deserved point.

Bradford had the first opening of the match as they attempted to use the breakaway against their hosts, Isaac Marriott finding Alex Hurst who drove forward, but saw his shot from range comfortably saved by Peter Crook.

Avenue then had to throw one or two bodies on the line as the ball dropped following a Boston free-kick, but managed to break once more to create a hairy moment for the hosts.

The same pair combined and Hurst’s good run ended with his powerful cross just too far ahead of Lewis Knight.

Law’s men were struggling once more with discipline, Riccardo Calder booked early on before a poor Nelson Digbeu foul nearly cost them.

The referee was ready to give Avenue’s French defender a talking to, but the home side took the free-kick quickly and Brad Abbott sent a shot crashing wide of the near post.

Avenue were dealt a blow as Knight was forced off injured on the half-hour, but they should have gone ahead moments later on the end of a great move.

Calder, who had moved forward in the formation following Knight’s departure, drove into the box and cut back for Richard Cresswell, but the defender playing in attack skewed his shot when he should have scored.

The unusual number nine then had another chance after more good play between Hurst and Marriott saw the Huddersfield loanee get a good cross in which Cresswell met on the volley, but it deflected just wide of the near post.

Boston were being kept at bay by a sturdy Avenue defence, and the free-scoring side showed their frustration late in the first half, Tom Platt and Ainge firing high and wide from range.

The visitors continued to defend admirably into the second period, Ainge firing high and wide once more, but after a double substitution led to a dangerous spell, Boston took the lead.

Bradford had cleared three crosses in succession, but a high ball came in from Karl Byrne which Dominic Knowles headed down and Abbott arrived to finish into the bottom corner.

And moments later is was two as Avenue heads went down, Thewlis, one of those substitutes, picked up a loose ball and skipped past a challenge before finding Jack Bennett’s bottom corner.

Ainge had a real chance to seal the match, as he was allowed a free header from a corner, but he planted it firmly wide of the target.

With six minutes to play, Avenue brought themselves back into it.

Calder played an excellent deceptive ball over the top which was chased by Dockerty and fellow substitute Myron Gibbons, with the former left to simply touch the ball past Peter Crook and roll it into an empty net.

The goal caused a late rally from Avenue and Boston looked nervous, the hosts having to defend for their lives as Gibbons touched down for Hurst, but his shot couldn’t get through the crowd.

Bradford’s best chance late on came through the exceptional Calder, who took down a pass with a brilliant touch, working space for a shot which he fired just wide of the top corner from 20 yards.

In the end it wasn’t to be, but there were plenty of positives for Law’s men following a handful of disappointing performances.

Boston United: Crook, Byrne, Whittle, Thanoj (Adebayo-Smith 56), Ainge, Shiels (c), Platt, Abbott, Knowles (Green 69), Walker (Thewlis 56), Rollins

Subs not used: Willis, Jackson

Goals: Abbott (64), Thewlis (66)

Booked: Thanoj (53)

Bradford (Park Avenue): Bennett, Bazeley, Calder, Wood (c), Lund, Digbeu, Knight (Headley 31), Marriott, Cresswell (Gibbons 82), Hurst, Holmes (Dockerty 61)

Subs not used: None

Goal: Dockerty (84)

Booked: Calder (19), Cresswell (77), Marriott (78)

Referee: Scott Simpson

Attendance: 1,110 (47 visitors)

Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes

Bradford (Park Avenue) fell to a second successive home defeat at the hands of near neighbours Farsley Celtic.

Full-back Thomas Allan opened the scoring before both sides struck the woodwork in a frantic second half.

However late in the game, Jack Bennett allowed a Jordan Richards shot to trickle through his legs, with Ben Atkinson adding a third deep into added time with a thumping effort.

It was a miserable defeat for Marcus Law’s men, who had shown much promise in recent matches.

The away side actually had the ball in the back of the net with just five minutes on the clock, but Farsley captain Danny Ellis was adjudged to have fouled his man as he climbed to win the header.

Celtic were enjoying a lot of space out wide, and fashioned the next opening as Luke Parkin cut inside but dragged his effort past the post from 20 yards.

Moments later, Bradford had the best chance of the first period, after a brilliant move.

Isiah Bazeley and Lewis Knight combined excellently down the right before the on-loan Aston Villa man pulled the ball back, only for Knight’s finish to just fade away from the top corner and fly wide.

Farsley had a few questionable shouts for a penalty and Riccardo Calder hit a tame effort into Kyle Trennery’s arms as a tight first half ended goalless.

The second period continued in a particularly fast paced manner, and Farsley fired Avenue a warning moments before taking the lead.

Left-back Allan delivered a brilliant cross and James Spencer struck the near post with his effort.

Avenue scrambled the ball away for a corner but weren’t awake to a short move, Tyler Walton delivering a great inswinging cross which Allan rose to flick into the bottom corner.

Alex Hurst then worried Trennery with a low drive before Bradford stopper Bennett was down sharply to deny Spencer after the home defence failed to clear a throw-in.

Avenue conceded a cheap free kick on the edge of the box seconds later, and were almost made to pay as Parkin’s thunderous strike rattled the post with Bennett rooted to the spot.

Less than five minutes later is was the hosts’ turn to strike the woodwork as Marcus Wood’s weaving run through midfield ended on the edge of the box, his low left-footed effort cannoning off the foot of the upright.

Both sides chased the all-important second goal, but it was Farsley who got it with four minutes to play in the cheapest fashion.

Substitute Nathan Cartman played a brilliant through-ball for Richards, who took on the shot first time and his effort straight at Bennett slipped through the goalkeepers grasp and trickled over the line.

And the visitors added a third in stoppage time to add some deserved gloss to the final score. Cartman brilliantly dummied Spencer’s cut-back and Atkinson arrived to thump the ball into the top corner from just outside the box.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Bennett, Lund (c), Calder, Wood, Digbeu, Bazeley, Knight, Marriott (Holmes 67), Cresswell, Hurst, Headley (Dockerty 58)

Subs not used: Gibbons, Laird, Moran

Booked: Headley (16), Digbeu (42)

Farsley Celtic: Trennery, Richards, Allan, Walton (Maltby 90), Ellis (c), Clayton, B.Atkinson, C.Atkinson, Spencer, Parkin (Cartman 79), Syers (Baldwin 67)

Subs not used: Wynne, Hayhurst

Goals: Allan (50), Richards (86), B.Atkinson (90+4)

Booked: Ellis (57)

Referee: Aaron Bannister

Attendance: 508

Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes

Avenue twice drop points and suffered late heartbreak against AFC Telford in a highly entertaining game at the Horsfall Stadium on Saturday.

Two goals from Brenon Daniels and Adam Walker undid the good work that the side had shown in the previous game. The final outcome, a 3-2 home defeat adding fresh concerns to Marcus Law about his side’s defensive frailty that harshly saw Park Avenue leave home with nothing.

Looking to build on their first win of the season against Darlington on Monday, Park Avenue started the brighter of the two sides with two chances in quick succession falling to Lewis Knight in the Telford six yard box.

Knight continues to impress at the club and showed early glimpses of why Law is keen to play him in the middle rather than out wide, busting a gut to chase numerous attempted through balls.

Nelson Digbeu had another hugely impressive opening at the back. Tall, quick, combative and comfortable on the ball under the pressure, he ticks a lot of boxes for Marcus Law at the back.

Whilst Park Avenue where playing with the confidence and relentless drive carried over from the Darlington game in the opening quarter, the games first goal came in the 28th minute from Daniels, who had a simple tap in at the far post after a lapse in defence had seen Avenue fail to deal with a cross into the box.

The goal which came against the run of play, seemed to immediately stir Avenue into fightback mode and less than ten minutes later, they had drawn level at 1-1.

Park Avenue’s first goal at home this season and of the game came from an exciting passage of play. Lewis Knight controlled a superb 60-yard ball in space from Riccard Calder to advance inside the Telford box and slip the ball inch perfect past Telford goalkeeper, Andrew Wycherley, who was caught in a one on one situation.

Knight had read the cross, broken free and could not miss. It was a moment of brilliance from the young Bradford forward, who continue to come of age at the Horsfall Stadium.

Seconds after Knight had equalised for Park Avenue, Marcus Dinanga had for forced a corner for the visitors, but Taylor was on hand to deal with a mad scramble to recover the ball in the Avenue box.

However, moments before the break Telford punished Bradford again, this time from Walker, who had the space and time to strike the ball past Taylor from 20 yards out into the Aveneue net to give the visitors a 2-1 lead at the interval.

The second half began with Bradford in the ascendecey, wrestling the momentum back and Knight saw a chance float inches over the Telford bar.

Bradford continued to push hard with Isaac Marriot, Brad Dockerty, Jaheim Headley and Alex Hurst all continuing to shine.

A defence-splitting past from Marcus Wood had put Dockerty through and the young forward took the ball on the right foot and fired a shot that Wycherley fumbled but recovered.

Bradford could then sense the game was there for the taking, adopting a gung-ho attitude as they went for the jugular trying to draw level.

To their credit and endeavour, they did just that for the second time in the match after they broke at pace from deep with Calder mirroring the earlier effort from Edwards, sending a 20-yard rocket past a static Wycherley into the roof of the net to send the Horsfall Stadium into wild celebration.

Bradford sensed three points were on the horizon but just couldn’t find much joy after that moment of magic from Calder as the game entered the final ten minutes.

Queue more defensive chaos in the Park Avenue box, a frustrating feature of Park Avenue’s campaign so far this season as Telford snatched victory with only minutes remaining through Daniels’s second goal of the game.

Avenue undone by a curling cross from Aaron Williams which connected with Daniels, who had somehow beaten six defenders in the 18-yard box.

Rhys Taylor had no time to react as he and the rest of the Park Avenue players on the pitch could only watch in disappointment as the ball rolled painfully over the line to give Telford three points in a thoroughly entertaining advert for the National League North.

Photo credit: John Rhodes

Match Report: Mick Gledhill

Bradford (Park Avenue) claimed their first win of the season with a hard-fought victory at Darlington.

A first goal in senior football for Jaheim Headley was enough for Bradford to claim victory in a brilliantly battled backs-to-the-wall win in which Darlington hit the post three times – including with a penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

Goalkeeper Rhys Taylor made a string of fine saves as Bradford claimed their first win of the season, with a second clean sheet in a row.

There were two new faces in the Bradford lineup with Headley starting for Marcus Law’s side, while Brad Dockerty also came into the starting 11.

The game started at a fast pace despite the sweltering heat, Lewis Knight played in behind twice but to no avail, before Stephen Thompson’s header down couldn’t find a teammate at the other end.

Thompson had the game’s first real chance of the game, as his header from a corner dropped just onto the roof of the net with Taylor stranded.

Avenue struggled to properly find any rhythm early on as Mitch Lund was forced off in the second minute with a facial injury, before the referee waved him off again not long after returning, both times refusing to allow him back into the action while the play was ongoing.

The visitors did have a sniff just after Lund was forced to receive treatment for a second time, as Knight’s long throw dropped in the area but neither Jon Moran or central defensive partner Nelson Digbeu could get there.

Dockerty then saw some joy on the right for Bradford, twice getting to the by-line but both times just struggling to find a man with his low cut-backs.

The hosts then had another chance, once more created by Thompson, whose chest down was volleyed well over by Adam Campbell.

Avenue came forward again though and came their closest through Digbeu, who headed Knight’s throw-in towards the bottom corner, only for Chris Elliott to be equal to it with a very good save.

His opposite number, Bradford captain Taylor, then had work to do himself, closing down Will Hadfield’s burst into the area, before he reacted brilliantly to save from Justin Donawa after he found himself in behind and bearing down on goal.

The second half started in a similarly even fashion, with Hadfield’s volley well blocked by Moran in the only chance before Avenue took the lead.

A long ball was well held up by Avenue substitute Joseph Chidyausiku and Isaac Marriott play a brilliant ball through to Headley, who took it in his stride before prodding past Elliott and into the bottom corner.

Moments later, Taylor had to be at his absolute best as a Darlington corner was headed onto the inside of the post and the Bradford goalkeeper acrobatically beat the effort away from goal.

Darlington continued to build pressure but with little in the way of goalmouth action until the 82nd minute, when a long ball found Campbell but his powerful effort was well kept out by the legs of Taylor.

Bradford managed to get themselves up the other end of the pitch, but Hurst’s cross was volleyed over by an offside Myron Gibbons.

As a board signalling six minutes of added time went up, Taylor did well to beat away Rivers’ cross before Hadfield’s effort was charged down by Hurst.

Campbell saw a shot deflected just wide before his 20-yard strike flew past Taylor but thumped back out off the upright.

The goalkeeper then did brilliantly to react and get down as Louis Laing got a prodded effort towards goal which looked to have wrong-footed Taylor.

But then as the clock ticked towards full time, the referee pointed to the spot as a cross dropped and a Darlington man looked to be crowded out, though the decision looked soft.

Up stepped Thompson, but his low effort towards the bottom corner went wide off the outside of the post – with a possible touch from Taylor on its way.

The full time whistle was finally blown to give Avenue their first win of the season in dramatic circumstances after a brilliant team performance which deserves a lot of credit.

Darlington: Elliott, Atkinson, Watson, Bascome (Holness 71), Laing, Galbraith (c, Heaton 32), Rivers, Hatfield, Campbell, Thompson, Donawa (O’Neill 59)

Subs not used: Bell, Wheatley

Booked: Hadfield (70)

Bradford (Park Avenue): Taylor (c), Lund (Chidyausiku 46), Calder, Wood, Moran, Digbeu, Dockerty (Hedley 66), Marriott, Knight (Gibbons 74), Hurst, Headley

Subs not used: Bennett, Orlando-Young

Goal: Headley (60)

Booked: Headley (41), Taylor (64), Hedley (76), Hurst (78), Calder (90+4)

Referee: Dean Hulme

Attendance: 1,491

Next Up: AFC Telford United (H) | Saturday 31st August, 3pm kick-off

Bradford (Park Avenue) earned their second point of the season with a goalless draw at home to Blyth.

Both sides had chances in a close contest at the Horsfall Stadium, which drew plenty of positives for a home side who kept their first clean sheet of the season.

After promising changes through the week, interim manager Marcus Law handed out three debuts from the start, with Riccardo Calder, Marcus Wood and Myron Gibbons all coming in for their first appearance in red, amber and black.

It was the visitors who came close early on though, Adam Wrightson getting in behind but Rhys Taylor made himself big and blocked the effort inside 30 seconds.

Calder had the first of Avenue’s chances in a frantic opening to the match, heading Hedley’s cross well wide before bursting into the box and seeing a low drive well held by Nathan Harker.

Lewis Knight was then gifted a chance as Tom Devitt slipped on the edge of his own box, but the forward shot well wide when a pass to Doncaster loanee Gibbons may have been the better option.

Calder and Knight then combined for another good chance for the forward, but he headed well over from a cracking cross into the box.

Wood saw a shot from range comfortably held before Gibbons’ shot was blocked as Bradford looked to take advantage of their dominance in the opening half an hour.

But it was the visitors who in fact had the ball in the back of the net, Taylor doing brilliantly to deny Wrightson but Scott Fenwick prodded home, only for the linesman’s flag to deny him.

The goalmouth action died down on a hot afternoon at the Horsfall stadium, Fenwick and Wrightson again combining for the former to glance wide when he probably should have scored.

Avenue had a couple of corners which came to nothing before the big chance with only three minutes to play.

Bradford had worked their way into the area and a loose ball fell the way of substitute debutant Joseph Chidyausiku, but his finish was blocked on the line brilliantly by Oliver Scott.

As the hosts pushed forward for a winner, there was space at the back and still time for one huge chance for the visitors.

Captain Robbie Dale managed to get one-on-one with Mitch Lund, coming inside but seeing his shot brilliantly kept out by Taylor, before heading the loose ball just wide of the target.

It’s a short turnaround over the bank holiday weekend, as Bradford now head to Darlington on Monday looking to find that elusive first win of the campaign.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Taylor (c), Lund, Calder, Wood, Moran, Digbeu (Dockerty 79), Hedley, Marriott (Holmes 79), Gibbons (Chidyausiku 60), Hurst, Knight

Subs not used: Cresswell, Orlando-Young

Booked: Calder (61)

Blyth Spartans: Harker, Horner, Scott, Devitt, Ritzen, Mason (Hutchinson (45+1), Wrightson (Orrell 80), Robson, Fenwick, Mullen (Mouanda 9), Dale (c)

Subs not used: Evans, Foden

Referee: Adam Herczog

Attendance: 328

A much improved Avenue battle back from a one goal deficit to notch their first point of the 2019/20 season.

Bradford Park Avenue made the 225 mile round trip to the Gateshead International Stadium in their fourth game of the 2019/20 season, the second of interim manager, Marcus Law’s regime, which saw the Avenue score their first goal and earn their first point of the season.

Bradford were determined to make a strong impact, which they did. French centre-back Nelson Digbeu came dangerously close to hitting the back of the net in only the 6^th minute with a headed effort that was well saved by Brad James.

This attempt on goal only proved to spur on the home side who for the next fifteen minutes dominated the lion’s share of possession and attacking play.

In the 32^nd minute Gateshead’s patience was rewarded, with JJ O’Donnell slipping past the static Bradford defence to poke in a low-crossed effort from Nicky Deverdics.

Refusing to accept defeat, the energetic visitors pulled themselves together and gave an inspiring performance until the half time whistle sounded.

Second Half

Park Avenue emerged from the tunnel refreshed from the break to lay on the pressure. However they were initially unable to capitalise on the pressure due to some determined defending and a number of dangerous attacking runs being deemed offside.

However, the visitors finally got the reward.  In the 59^th minute Elliot Holmes crossed to the edge of the box, a perfectly weighted centre found Lewis Knight, who had no trouble firmly putting the bell into the top right corner to score Bradford’s opening goal of the season. 

Lewis’s inspiring opening goal visibly increased the squad’s morale and confidence with Alex Hurst coming devastatingly close to putting Park Avenue ahead with a strike from 30 yards out, which took a deflection off a Gateshead defender and was frantically cleared.

Bradford’s attacking domination slowed to a halt going into the last 15 minutes of open play. Moran received a yellow card and Gateshead took advantage of the careful defending and proceeded to bombard Jack Bennett’s area with a litany of crosses that challenged the away side’s defensive resolve. However the young goalkeeper, (a product of American partner club Nebraska Bugeaters) on his League debut had a solid first outing. 

Bradford successfully defended the scoreline until the 94^th minute, where Greg Olley was taken out on the left flank with a late tackle from Ben Hedley. Bennett was called into action for the last time, athletically punching out the dangerous ball as it pierced the Bradford box.

Teams

Gateshead

Brad James

Alex Nicholson

Scott Barrow

Connor Oliver

Toby Lees

Mike Williamson

Nicky Deverdics

Liam Agnew

Josh Kayode

Greg Olley

JJ O’Donnell

Subs

Connor Thomson

Sam Guthrie

Danny Greenfield

Jordan Preston

Elliot Forbes

Bradford (Park Avenue)

Jack Bennett (GK)

Ben Hedley

Akeem Hinds

Mitchell Lund

Jon Moran

Nelson Digbeu

Isaac Marriott

Elliot Holmes

Zayn Hakeem

Lewis Knight

Alex Hurst

Subs

Amos Kabeya

Charlie Andrew

Sam Wright

Jake Croft

Matty Clarke

Attendance 1001

Match Officials

Referee: Paul Brown

Assistants: James Bancroft & Adam Nichol

Photo Credit: Charlie Waugh

Bradford (Park Avenue) showed signs of improvement but couldn’t prevent a third defeat of the season against Kidderminster Harriers.

Marcus Law led the team out for the first time since his interim appointment, however goals from Corey Davidson, Reece Williams and Ashley Chambers saw Kidderminster take all three points from a blustery Horsfall Stadium.

French centre-back Nelson Digbeu made his debut from the start, while fellow new recruit Amos Kabeya was among the substitutes after the pair were announced as available for the match just hours before kick-off.

Conditions were tricky in Bradford, and with Avenue playing against the wind in the first period, Law’s side struggled to enjoy and substantial periods of pressure. 

Both sides were still adjusting to the elements when the visitors took the lead, the ball falling to left back Davidson, whose low, angled strike from just inside the box zipped into Charlie Andrew’s bottom left-hand corner.

Moments later, Isaac Marriott caused the first sight of danger for Avenue from outside the box, fizzing a low strike comfortably wide of the post. 

Skipper Ben Hedley then forced visiting goalkeeper Cameron Gregory into his first piece of action, pushing a well-struck free-kick round the post, with Alex Hurst firing over from the resulting corner.

Ryan Johnson glanced a header well wide for Harriers, before Davidson tried his luck once more, a powerful free-kick deflecting wide off the wall.

A set-piece did however ultimately lead to Avenue’s downfall, the hosts failed to clear Weeks’ corner and Liverpool loanee Williams headed into the top corner.

Kidderminster were looking to extend their lead even further before the break, but some brave defending saw Richard Peniket and Ed Williams unable to finish, Jon Moran at the heart of the action with a terrific block.

The game restarted in an open manner, Lewis Knight dragging a shot wide after another dangerous burst into the box, before blocks from Digbeu and Moran kept out Peniket and Chambers.

Peniket then thought he’d got on the scoresheet as he brought down a floated long ball and found the bottom corner, but the linesman’s flag denied him despite the former Halifax forward’s protests.

Avenue were clinging onto the game as Chambers ran through and should have scored, but a tremendous save from Charlie Andrew saw his powerful effort tipped away, before Peniket ran clear on the right but could only find the side-netting.

Hurst then put in a dangerous low cross which was deflected just behind substitute Kabeya, before Andrew was again on hand to deny Sam Austin at the other end.

The hosts huffed and puffed, but the game was made completely secure in the 87th minute, as Chambers went one-on-one with Moran and managed to squeeze a shot past the Bradford defender and an on-rushing Andrew.

Knight could have opened Avenue’s account for the season in stoppage time, as Hurst’s floated ball over the top found him deep inside the Kidderminster area, but his prodded effort went comfortably over the bar.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Andrew, Lund, Hinds, Marriott, Digbeu, Moran, Hurst, Hedley (C, Holmes 68), Hakeem (Kabeya 60), Knight, Clarke (Dockerty 68)

Subs not used: Croft, Wright

Bookings: Knight (44), Hedley (60), Moran (77)

Kidderminster Harriers: Gregory, Austin, Davidson (Higginson 63), R. Williams, Moyo (C), Johnson, Weeks, Butterfield (Prosser 89), Chambers (Scott 90+3), E. Williams, Peniket

Subs not used: Mountjoy, Lewth

Goals: Davidson (14), R. Williams (39), Chambers (87)

Bookings: Davidson (45+3), Weeks

Attendance: 379