After another exciting week folllowing the playoff quarter final and securing a trip to Brackley Town FC on Sunday. On Saturday morning Mark and the team will have another light training session from 10:15 at Horsfall which is open for fans to come down and show their support.
It will also be the last opportunity to secure your spot on the coach travelling to Brackley Town FC on Sunday. Alternatively please contact Neil Fawcett on 07811959003.
Brackley Town FC have advised that the upcoming playoff semi-final game on Semi-Final game on Sunday 6th May, will be pay on the gate and no segregation will be in place. Match prices are as follows:
£12 Adults
£6 Concessions (Over 60)
£3 Under 18’s & Students
£0 Under 10’s
Brackley Town FC have also asked us to share the following information:
Brackley Town FC has restricted parking at its ground and following local residents complaints of inconsiderate parking resulting in police issuing tickets for illegal parking.
Match day parking is set aside for players,officials and authorised visitors including disabled vehicles with remaining parking on a first come first served basis.
Brackley Town FC encourage car sharing so as to reduce vehicle and environmental impacts and have introduced a car parking charge of £2 for cars and £5 for minibuses. Vehicles must park where indicated by stewards so as to maximise capacity and avoid obstructions.
Disabled vehicles and minibuses shouldensure they have pre- booked their places at least 24 hours in advance with the club and arrive at least 45 mins before kick off.
Alternative car parking is available in the town centre in Market Place and at Hinton Road opposite the Fire Station.
Please do not park in residential streets or cause obstructions as following residents complaints illegal and inconsiderate parking has become a local police priority and could result in any such vehicles being ticketed and / or removed by the police.
There are still places remaining on the Supporters coach priced at £10 for Adults and £8 for Under 18’s. To book your place please contact Neil Fawcett on 07811959003.
Bradford Park Avenue stormed into the semi-finals of the play-offs with a 2-0 win over favourites Kidderminster Harriers.
The clinical front two of Adam Boyes and Oli Johnson both weighed in with goals as Avenue ensured they would be Brackley Town’s opponents in a semi-final showdown on Sunday.
Mark Bower saw no need to make any changes following last Saturday’s win over John Eustace’s side, naming an unchanged starting eleven.
The opening exchanges were tense and nervy, but a shock lead was taken by the visitors after just ten minutes. Johnson drove forward before slipping through to Boyes with a perfectly weighted pass and the striker made no mistake in coolly dispatching past Brandon Hall.
The hosts rallied after the shock of the early opener, but Avenue were buoyed by an in-form Steven Drench, who made crucial stops to deny Elton Ngwatala and Dan Bradley. The latter had already rifled a shot wide from close-range when he was thwarted by Drench and frustration was already showing on the faces of Harriers players.
With half-time on the horizon, Bradley came close again with a looping header that Drench was forced to pluck out of the top corner.
The hosts were presented with an opportunity to equalise from a free-kick on the stroke of half-time when Rob Atkinson scythed down Ngwatala, but James McQuilkin drove his effort into the wall.
After the interval, Harriers emerged with the determination and attacking intent you’d expect from a side looking to overturn a deficit in a play-off game but struggled to break the visitors down. They were almost gifted an equaliser by a bizarre bounce that almost allowed a speculative long-range effort from Ngwatala to loop over Drench. Luckily, the shot struck the goalkeeper’s shoulder before flying harmlessly over the crossbar.
A frantic goal-line scramble had the hearts of the travelling supporters in their mouths, but Declan Weeks blasted over when the ball eventually broke loose.
Avenue spent a prolonged period camped in their own half but had a golden opportunity to double their lead in the 63rd minute. Boyes broke down the left before opting to shoot instead of square to an unmarked Frank Mulhern, squandering a rare chance uncharacteristically.
The direct Ngwatala was a persistent thorn in Avenue’s side and almost registered an assist when his inch-perfect cross was headed wide by Joe Ironside.
As an equaliser began to look more likely by the minute, Joel Taylor blazed over despite being in acres of space after the ball arrived at his feet at the back-post.
Holes began to appear in the hosts’ backline as bodies piled forward and Mark Bower’s side nearly capitalised when Mulhern’s low drive struck the post before Boyes’ looping header cannoned off the woodwork in the space of a minute.
Harriers were eventually punished for abandoning their defensive shape when Johnson turned in Boyes’ low-drilled cross to hand Avenue a two-goal cushion.
The second goal deflated John Eustace’s side, who desperately looked to claw one back to no avail. The visitors even came close to adding a third when Wayne Brooksby forced Hall to beat away his chipped effort in stoppage time.
Avenue will now travel to Brackley Town on Sunday, who host the odds-defying Yorkshire side for a 3pm kick-off.
Kidderminster Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Taylor, Croasdale, Horsfall, O’Connor, Weeks (Waring 85’), McQuilkin (Sonupe 61’), Ironside, Bradley, Ngwatala.
Unused substitutes: Brown, Austin, Pearson.
Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Ross, Atkinson, Wroe (c), Killock, Havern, Brooksby, Spencer, Boyes, Johnson, Mulhern (Vidal 84’).B
Unused substitutes: Toulson, Hall, Boshell, Smith.
Referee: Declan Bourne
The club will be running subsidised away travel for the upcoming play off semi final against Brackley Town. Seats cost £10 for Adults and £8 for Under 18’s. Pick up times are 09:45 from The Horsfall Stadium, 10:00 from Ceder Court and 10:30 from Junction 39 M1 (Red Kite Pub) To book your seat please contact Neil Fawcett on 07811959003
The sides meet this evening for an immediate rematch after Avenue took maximum points at Kidderminster’s expense last Saturday. This time, the league rivals are vying for a place in the play-off semi-finals where Brackley Town await.
The injured duo of Adam Nowakowski and Nicky Clee remain doubtful but Adam Smith and Javan Vidal are both in line to feature after being named as substitutes in Saturday’s win. Matt Hill could return after being ruled out of Saturday’s victory.
FORM:
The wind is very much in Avenue’s sails following a run of five straight wins that included victories over play-off contenders Brackley Town, Harrogate Town and tonight’s opponents, Kidderminster Harriers.
Harriers’ unbeaten run stretched to six before Mark Bower’s side caused an upset and will be keen to return to winning ways.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
Both manager Mark Bower and defender Shane Killock have alluded to the experience in Avenue’s side in the run-up to the game and they certainly boast one of the most seasoned squads in the division.
Three years ago, Guiseley clinched promotion to the top tier of non-league football in the play-off final, defeating Chorley 3-2. Between the sticks for the Lions was current Avenue stopper Steven Drench, who was protected by a backline that featured Ryan Toulson. Danny Boshell and Wayne Brooksby both featured in the midfield, in behind a front two of Oli Johnson and Adam Boyes. The latter got on the scoresheet as Mark Bower’s side reached the dizzy heights of the Conference Premier. There was also a familiar face in the Magpies’ line-up that day, as Mark Ross completed 90 minutes for Chorley.
Captain Nicky Wroe has tasted play-off success in the Blue Square Premier in 2009. The combative midfielder completed 90 minutes for Torquay United as they saw off Cambridge United to seal promotion to League Two.
Defensive lynchpin Gianluca Havern has been a mainstay of Avenue’s side this season and has two sixth-tier promotions on his CV after helping Hyde United and Altrincham achieve top tier status. The injured Nicky Clee also featured as the Robins clinched promotion in 2014.
Shane Killock’s impressive form has made him one of the first names on the team sheet at the Horsfall in recent weeks and he captained AFC Telford United to promotion from the sixth-tier in 2011.
February signing Adam Smith is another name on the list of Avenue players with play-off experience having featured for York City in their play-off semi-final first leg win over Luton Town in 2010.
On-loan defender Rob Atkinson replaced Matt Hill in Avenue’s starting eleven last Saturday following an injury to the veteran full-back and has also achieved a non-league promotion. He was an integral part of the Fleetwood Town side that earned promotion to the Football League in 2012.
John Eustace has one of the most youthful squads in the league at his disposal but he has players that boast experience at the business end. Imposing defender Kennedy Digie played a vital role in helping Stourbridge reach the Norther Premier League Premier Division play-off final last season and fellow defender James O’Connor helped Sean O’Driscoll’s Doncaster Rovers reach the Championship via the League One play-offs in 2008.
THE OPPOSITION GAFFER:
John Eustace:
38-year-old Eustace stepped into management with Kidderminster in 2016, a year after hanging up his boots. He plied his trade in the Premier League and Football League during his career, operating as a midfielder after graduating from Coventry City’s academy. The Solihull-born battler recorded 98 appearances for the Sky Blues and won Dundee United’s ‘Young Player of the Year’ award following a loan spell in the 1998-1999 season. He then moved to Stoke City where he spent five years before being snapped up by Watford for a reported £250,000 in 2008. Eustace made 157 appearances for the Hornets before finishing his career with Derby County.
ONE TO WATCH:
Joe Ironside
The prolific forward was rested during Kidderminster’s defeat to Avenue last Saturday but would be a surprise omission if he didn’t feature in tonight’s game. The 24-year-old progressed through Sheffield United’s academy and made 16 appearances for the first-team before his release in 2015. Having gained non-league experience during loan spells with the likes of FC Halifax Town, Harrogate Town and Alfreton Town, he joined the latter on a permanent deal following his departure from Bramall Lane. He struggled to find his feet at the Impact Arena but rediscovered his goal scoring after joining Nuneaton Town in 2016. After impressing at the LDJ Solicitors Stadium, Ironside sealed a move to the Harriers and has scored on 19 occasions already this season.
Tonight’s play-off elimination round match kicks-off at 7:45pm but if you can’t make it, you can follow all the action on Twitter. Find us at @BPAFCOfficial!
What a way to finish our season on Saturday! Without playing particularly well, the lads dug in and kept their composure to get us the victory we needed to get in to those play offs. It has been a surreal last few weeks where for most of it we’ve felt like we’ve been playing for pride, but for us to put five successive wins together to put pressure on the teams around us at this stage of the season is a remarkable achievement.
Spennymoor pushed us all the way on Saturday and I must give them credit for the way they came from a goal behind to win in their game against Southport despite all the games they have played recently and so soon after the disappointment of their draw at home to Ferriby on Thursday night. They have had a great season and I’m sure they will be even stronger next year.
We now face a trip back to Kidderminster on Wednesday night and I hope as many Avenue fans as possible can travel down to support the lads and enjoy the occasion. Saturday’s result will have no bearing on the play off game and we know Kidderminster rotated their squad and will make changes for this game, but our lads can approach the game with a different pressure to that which we experienced on Saturday. Nobody expected us to be in this position and nobody expects us to get promoted, but we’ve been on a great run and the players are playing with confidence and in a one off play off game, anything can happen.
Kidderminster are a fantastic team with some top quality young players and play with a style that any true football fan would appreciate and admire. I have great respect for their management team of John Eustace and Matt Gardiner who give their players licence to express themselves and pass the ball. They had a great season finishing second last year and have been strong again this time, particularly at home, so we know how tough it will be for us to come away with a win. But our players know their jobs and if we can carry them out to the best of our ability we have a chance.
It’s been an amazing season with a few highs and lows and its still not over yet!
Thanks for your amazing support, bring on Kidderminster!
Mark
This is the last opportunity for Supporters to secure their seat on the coach to Kidderminster tomorrow. Seats cost £10 for Adults and £8 for Under 18’s. Pick up times are 15:15 from The Horsfall Stadium and 15:30 from Ceder Court. To book your seat please contact Neil Fawcett on 07811959003
After the excitement of securing a play-off spot on Saturday its back to business for Mark and the boys in preparation for Wednesday’s return trip to Kidderminster.
Tonight Mark and the team will have a light training session at Horsfall which you, the fans, are invited to come along and show your support.
The bar will open at 5.30 and you can register to secure your spot on the coach travelling to Kidderminster on Wednesday. Alternatively please contact Neil Fawcett on 07811959003. Prices for the coach will be £10 for Adults and £8 for Under 18s. Pick up will be at 15:15 from Horsfall and 15:30 from Ceder Court.
After the excitement of securing a play-off spot yesterday its back to business for Mark and the boys in preparation for Wednesday’s return trip to Kidderminster.
On Monday evening Mark and the team will have a light training session at Horsfall which you, the fans, are invited to come along and show your support.
The bar will open at 5.30 and you can register to secure your spot on the coach travelling to Kidderminster on Wednesday. Alternatively please contact Neil Fawcett on 07811959003.
Late winner send Avenue into dreamland
Bradford Park Avenue ended the regular season by defying the odds and securing a play-off spot thanks to a dramatic late winner from Adam Boyes.
Mark Bower initially named an unchanged starting eleven but was forced to make a change before kick-off when Matt Hill flagged up an issue with his calf in the warm-up. Central defender Rob Atkinson was drafted in as an emergency replacement, shifting Shane Killock to the vacant left-back position in the process.
Avenue had to deal with an onslaught of early pressure in the opening exchanges and Steven Drench had to make an excellent save to deny Dan Bradley within the opening two minutes.
The visitors did have opportunites of their own despite being under mounting pressure and Nicky Wroe struck the post with an effort that lacked power, but left Brandon Hall stranded.
Kidderminster dealt a blow to Avenue’s play-off hopes with 14 minutes on the clock when Elton Ngwatala’s cross found Dan Bradley. The Harriers forward showed excellent composure to steer past Drench and deflate the Yorkshire play-off hopefuls.
Emmanuel Sonupe had impressed for Kidderminster in the reverse fixture at the Horsfall Stadium and caused Avenue problems throughout the first-half.
He cut in from the right before unleashing a curling effort that dropped just over the crossbar.
Kidderminster remained firmly on top for the remainder of the first-half, spraying the ball around with confidence and looking comfortable in defence.
Mark Bower’s side did, however, come close to opening the scoring when Oli Johnson pulled back to Jamie Spencer on the edge of the box, but the midfielder sliced wide. Immediately after, Johnson forced Hall into making a spectacular stop to keep his low drive out.
Opportunities fell to Sonupe and Ngwatala as the half approached its end, but Drench was in top form to thwart the Harriers’ talented frontline.
Frank Mulhern tested Hall quickly after the restart, forcing the busy stopper to beat away a drilled effort from just inside the 18-yard box.
The hosts almost doubled their lead when Sam Austin found himself with only Drench to beat, but Avenue’s ‘keeper continued to demonstrate why he is so highly-rated with another save.
As the half progressed, Avenue threw more and more bodies forward but were repeatedly thwarted by the hosts’ sturdy backline.
This was until a deflected corner delivery fell to Mulhern on the edge of the box, who buried the ball in the bottom corner with a perfectly executed finish.
News of Spennymoor Town’s lead against Southport had already filtered through to the Aggborough Stadium, setting up a tense finish to a thoroughly entertaining second-half.
Kidderminster, did, however, eventually crumble under intense Avenue pressure. Johnson worked his magic down the right before drilling across goal and Boyes stabbed home at the back-post after the ball took a series of deflections in a brief scramble.
Avenue will now visit Kidderminster again on Wednesday night, looking to secure a place in the play-off semi-final.
Kidderminster Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Austin, Weeks, Digie, Taylor, Sonupe, Truslove (Waring 60’), Brown, Bradley (Pearson 45’), Ngwatala.
Unused substitutes: Croasdale, McQuilkin, Ironside.
Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Ross, Atkinson, Wroe (c), Killock, Havern, Brooksby, Spencer (Vidal 74’), Boyes, Johnson, Mulhern (Boshell 90+5’).
Unused substitutes: Toulson, Hall, Smith.
Referee: Scott Simpson
