Gaffers Notes: Bradford Park Avenue Vs Darlington Saturday 10th February

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On Saturday we welcome Darlington to Horsfall for another big game. Having forced our way back in to the play off places we want to stay there, but to do that we must make sure we approach the game in the same way we approached Monday night. Darlington are in good form themselves, are unbeaten in 4 and have won their last two including a 3-0 win over Blyth last weekend. In Tommy Wright they have a manager who likes his team to play with no fear and attack the opposition, so the game should be quite open and hopefully a decent spectacle. We suffered a 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture in a game we should have got something from, but Darlington are much improved since then so it will be another tough one for us.
Enjoy the game
Mark
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Match Report: Bradford Park Avenue 5-0 Gainsborough Trinity

Five-star Avenue hammer sorry Trinity

After enduring a winless January, Bradford Park Avenue returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion with a 5-0 rout of Gainsborough Trinity.

Mark Bower shuffled the pack for the visit of 19th-placed Gainsborough Trinity, with on-loan midfielder Dan Pybus making his first start at the Horsfall Stadium and fellow loan recruit Frank Mulhern being named a substitute. Wayne Brooksby returned from a hamstring injury to reclaim his spot on the right-hand side of midfield, and Nicky Clee switched to left-back in a surprising change.

The hosts took an early lead via the returning Brooksby, who rifled into the top corner after pouncing on a Clee corner that had rebounded off the post.

Avenue took advantage of the early momentum, piling forward in droves as they hunted for a second. Nicky Wroe and Clee both saw long-range piledrivers deflected wide, and Shane Killock almost weighed in with a rare goal but volleyed over from just inside the box.

Brooksby looked extremely lively in his first outing since the defeat to York and stung the palms of Henrich Ravas with a powerful drive in the early stages.

The dominant home side soon found a way past Ravas again, with Adam Boyes providing one of his most unique finishes of the season to double Avenue’s lead. His perfectly executed cushioned volley allowed him to continue his rich vein of goalscoring form.

The Trinity goalkeeper was called into action shortly after conceding, as Ryan Toulson’s cross was headed back across goal by Boyes and into the path of Oli Johnson. However, the forward couldn’t direct his low drive past Rivas who made an impressive save.

Boyes came agonisingly close to netting again when he raced through to latch on to a through-ball, but saw his deft touch parried wide.

The visitors’ best chance of the first-half came when Shane Clarke struck goal wards from distance, but the midfielder’s effort fizzed wide of the post.

Pybus certainly made an impression on his debut following a loan move from Bradford City, and almost marked his arrival with a goal but saw his strike blocked on the line despite rounding a stranded Rivas.

Trinity threatened through Liam King late on, but the half-time whistle blew with Avenue firmly in the driving seat.

The hosts made a dream start to the second-half despite the visitors ringing the changes with a double substitution at the interval, as Boyes dispossessed Nathan Stainfield before coolly dispatching past Rivas.

Somewhat surprisingly given the comfortable nature of the lead, Mark Bower’s side continued to pile pressure on their opponents and Johnson forced another vital stop from Rivas after latching on to a Pybus flick.

Pybus then well and truly introduced himself to the Avenue faithful with a marauding run down the left, with the youngster evading the challenges of several players and covering an impressive distance before striking the post and allowing Brooksby to poke home the rebound.

Former Avenue favourite Craig King hammered an effort against the post as Trinity began to appear desperate, but the visitors couldn’t find a way past an Avenue defence that seemed impenetrable.

Avenue then entered dreamland as Johnson cut-in from the left before drifting back out wide and hammering a left-footed strike across goal and into the bottom corner.

The struggling visitors rarely threatened in the latter stages, and Avenue saw the game out in relatively comfortable fashion. It could have even been six when Clee darted into the box but saw his teasing delivery fly across the box without receiving the elusive finishing touch.

Another former Avenue player, Tom Davie, headed goal wards with two minutes remaining on the clock but Steve Drench held comfortably before the curtain was drawn on a mesmerising performance.

Mark Bower gave a special mention to those that worked on the pitch prior to the game in his post-match interview, stating that the Horsfall surface was in “great condition” in spite of heavy downpours. He also hailed the impact of debutants Dan Pybus and Frank Mulhern and referenced another new arrival in Adam Smith when discussing the “bench full of quality” at his disposal.

Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Toulson, Clee, Wroe (c), Killock, Havern, Brooksby (Smith 68’), Pybus (Vidal 73’), Boyes (Mulhern 71’), Johnson, Spencer.

Unused substitutes: Hill, Nowakowski.

Gainsborough Trinity: Ravas, Vann (Stainfield 45’), Davie, Richards (Bateson 45’), Beatson, Jacklin, C. King, Clarke (Russell 60’), Jarman, Horsfield, L. King.

Unused substiutes: Wells, Simmons.

Booked: Brooksby, Mulhern (Avenue), C. King, Bateson, Jarman (Trinity).

Referee: Alex Kirkley

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Gaffers Review: Bradford Park Avenue Vs Gainsborough Trinity Monday 5th February 2018

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After the disappointment of the postponement of Saturday’s game at Salford, it was good for the lads to get out on the pitch on Monday night against Gainsborough. We put in a very professional performance to run out comfortable winners and once we were in front, the players played with a lot of freedom and were able to express themselves and produce some lovely football. A special mention must go to everyone who has worked on the pitch over the last few weeks during the bad weather. The surface allowed us to move the ball quickly and played a massive part in the victory.

I was pleased that three of our recent signing were able to make their home debuts in the game. Dan Pybus has signed on loan from Bradford City and he provided energy and quality for us. He’s someone I’ve seen play on several occasions in their Under 23 side and as he gets more used to the physical side of the football at our level, I’m sure he’ll improve further and be a real asset during his loan spell. Frank Mulhern has signed on loan until the end of the season and I felt both he and Adam Smith showed glimpses of what they are about when they came off the bench. None of these signings would have been possible without the help of the Players Fund Initiative and they will be vital in adding strength in depth to the squad, but also increasing competition for places in the starting eleven.

More good performances to come

Mark

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Match Preview: Bradford Park Avenue Vs Gainsborough Trinity Monday 5th February 2018

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Mark Bower’s depleted squad received a huge boost ahead of Monday’s clash in the shape of two loan signings.

The Avenue boss raided two of his former clubs to secure the signatures of Bradford City’s Dan Pybus and Guiseley’s Frank Mulhern on Friday, and both are available for the meeting with Gainsborough.

Experienced midfielder Danny Boshell will miss out through suspension following his dismissal against Nuneaton Town, and winger Wayne Brooksby’s hamstring troubles are likely to sideline him once again. Defender Mark Ross is also a doubt having limped out of the 2-1 defeat to York City back in mid-January.

French wideman Antoine Remi Recizac wasn’t involved against Nuneaton but could potentially be named in the squad for Monday alongside fellow recruit Adam Smith, who made his debut at the LDJ Solicitors Stadium from the substitutes bench. Smith will be lining up against familiar faces should he be involved on Monday, having made an appearance for Trinity in early January in a 4-0 defeat to Blyth Spartans. Former Leeds United forward Mulhern and ex-England youth international Pybus are just two of four players hoping to appear at the Horsfall for Avenue for the first time, with neither Recizac nor Smith having represented the club at home since joining.

Trinity were scheduled to travel to Curzon Ashton on Saturday but, similarly to Avenue, saw their fixture fall victim to adverse weather conditions.

The previous week had been a fruitful one for Dave Frecklington’s side, as their form picked up and saw them claim six points from home games against Alfreton Town and Chorley.

Prior to the victories, however, Trinity had lost three consecutive games without scoring a solitary goal.

Avenue’s January form wasn’t much better, as a tough run of fixtures led to the enduring of a winless month. Despite this, the Yorkshire side remain nine points clear of Monday’s opponents and find themselves eighth in the National League North. Trinity are hovering dangerously above the relegation zone and are 19th.

Tickets for Monday night’s game are priced at just £10 for adults, £7 for concessions, £5 for students and £2 for under-18s. Don’t miss out on what is sure to be a thoroughly entertaining affair at the Horsfall Stadium.

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Bower Adds Second Capture Of The Day

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Guiseley striker Frank Mulhern has joined Bradford Park Avenue on a 3 month loan.

Capped by the Republic of Ireland at Under-18 and Under-19 level, Mulhern started his career in the Huddersfield Town Academy when he joined at Under 9 level in August 2005. After nearly 4 years with Huddersfield Town he departed for Leeds United in May 2009. He subsequently turned professional with the Elland Road club in the summer of 2015 following a two-year scholarship. However he was released and re-joined Huddersfield Town’s Under-23 Development Squad in February 2016, before joining Guiseley at the start of the current season. Mulhern has also had brief loan spells with Southport and Alfreton.

Frank will be available to go straight in to the team for the Salford City game on Saturday, subject to FA approval.

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Dan Pybus Joins On Loan From Neighbours Bradford City

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Mark Bower has secured the services of young midfielder Dan Pybus from neighbours Bradford City on an initial one month loan.

The attack-minded player started his career at Sunderland where he was part of their Under 23 and Under 18 squads. Playing predominately as a central or attacking midfielder, Pybus netted an impressive 15 goals in 23 games for Sunderland’s youth team in the 2015/2016 campaign. After a spell on loan at Derby County he joined Bradford City in March 2017. Since joining Bradford City he has made two 1st team appearances and has been a regular in their Development Squad. Pybus has also been capped at Under-16 level for England.

Pybus will be no stranger to the Horsfall Stadium or Bradford Park Avenue, having played in the Tom Banks Memorial pre-season friendly at the start of the current season.

Dan will be available to go straight in to the team for the Salford City game on Saturday, subject to FA approval.

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