14 Feb 2018

Match Preview: Blyth Spartans Vs Bradford Park Avenue Saturday 17th February

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Avenue face a stern test this Saturday, as they visit a Blyth Spartans side riding high on a wave of confidence after back-to-back 3-0 victories.

Blyth disposed of Tamworth on the Lambs’ home turf last night, with long-serving winger Robbie Dale netting a hat-trick. Mere days before, they had comfortably defeated fellow play-off contenders Brackley Town at Croft Park thanks to a Dan Maguire brace and a strike from Jarrett Rivers.

Saturday’s opponents lie fifth in the league table, six points ahead of Avenue and one goal ahead of Mark Bower’s side on goal difference. Avenue do, however, have a game-in-hand on their rival Green Army.

February was kickstarted with a 5-0 rout of Gainsborough Trinity for Avenue, but the play-off chasers slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Darlington last Saturday following a second-half strike from former Bradford City midfielder David Syers. A win on Saturday would only be Avenue’s second of the calendar year, but they still find themselves firmly in contention for a top-seven finish thanks to impressive form in the latter stages of 2017.

Defender Mark Ross was the only absentee in last week’s defeat to Darlington and is once again a doubt for the trip to Croft Park. Assistant Manager Danny Boshell is available for selection after serving his suspension, but Mark Bower may opt to hand another start to loanee Dan Pybus.

Take a look at our guide to Saturday’s opponents below…

THE GAFFER:

Alun Armstrong

42-year old Alun Armstrong took charge of Blyth in September 2016 and guided the Spartans to the Northern Premier League title in his first-ever campaign in the dugout. As a player, he represented Avenue’s neighbours Bradford City during a brief loan spell in the 2003-2004 season, as well as featuring for Yorkshire sides Huddersfield Town and Doncaster Rovers on loan in 2000 and 2006. His most successful spells, however, were enjoyed outside of Yorkshire. The former forward made 160 appearances for Stockport County between 1994 and 1998 after ascending the youth ranks of Newcastle United, and found the back of the net on 49 occasions for the Hatters. He also represented Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town, Darlington and Rushden & Diamonds in a career spanning 14 years, before retiring after a very brief stint with Newcastle Blue Star. Armstrong famously scored the only goal during Ipswich’s 1-0 win over Inter Milan in a UEFA Cup first leg tie in 2001.

KEY PLAYERS:

 Jarrett Rivers

 24-year old winger Rivers made ten appearances for Blackpool before re-joining Blyth in 2016 and extended his contract with the club last month. A pacey winger known for being a constant threat to defenders, he made the headlines in December 2014 after his 90th-minute winner dumped Hartlepool United out of the FA Cup in the second round and saw Blyth advance in the competition.

Robbie Dale

Despite reaching the age of 33, Dale remains one of the biggest talents outside of league football and was on the scoresheet in Blyth’s defeat to Avenue back in November. He has made over 500 appearances in the green and white of Blyth since marking his debut with a hat-trick against Emley (then known as Wakefield & Emley) in 2005 and has helped the club reach the third round of the FA Cup on two occasions. The winger was named the Evo-Stik Premier Division Player of the Year in 2015 and turned down a contract with Oxford United as a 21-year-old. He will line-up on Saturday looking to continue his rich vein of form having netted a hat-trick in Blyth’s recent win over Tamworth.

Daniel Maguire

A forward who can also operate on each flank, Maguire is certainly one for defenders to watch out for. He scored 23 goals in 42 appearances as Blyth romped to the Northern Premier League title last season and has represented England C. Maguire is no stranger to football in Yorkshire, having spent two months with Halifax Town in 2015. The dangerous attacker will be looking to add to his already impressive goal tally for this season, having notched 16 so far.

FORM:

DLWLWW

Written by Tom Coates

 

 

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11 Feb 2018

Away Travel: Salford City Tuesday 20th February 2018

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The club are looking at running a supporters coach to Salford City Tuesday 20th February 2018 subject to enough interest, with seats costing £12 for adults and £8 for under 18’s.

To book your seat please see Neil Fawcett at the Supporters Information Desk on match day or call him on 07811 959003

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10 Feb 2018

Match Report: Bradford Park Avenue 0-1 Darlington

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Syers strike sinks Avenue

Avenue suffered a 1-0 defeat to an in-form Darlington side, despite the Quakers being reduced to ten men in the latter stages.

Clearly satisfied with the convincing manner of Monday night’s rout of Gainsborough Trinity, Mark Bower named an unchanged squad for the visit of a Darlington side that hadn’t lost since the 10th of January.

Avenue started brightly and had opportunities to break the deadlock in the early stages. Wayne Brooksby drew an early stop from Aynsley Pears and Luca Havern leapt to meet a corner before clipping the crossbar with a powerful header.

The visitors grew in confidence as the game progressed and began to start asking questions of the Avenue backline. Havern was forced into making a crucial sliding interception to prevent Josh Gillies latching on to a Stephen Thompson through-ball shortly before Reece Styche rifled over with an audacious overhead kick.

Thompson was a persistent threat for the Quakers and came close to etching his name on the scoresheet with a low drive from distance.

The visitors emerged for the second-half with a quicker tempo than they had demonstrated previously, and a breakthrough seemed imminent. Styche squandered a golden opportunity to edge Darlington ahead when he bundled a Galbraith cross past the wrong side of the post.

They did, however, break the deadlock when the dangerous Thompson embarked on a mazy run down the right before pulling back to David Syers. The midfielder then steered past a helpless Drench to give Darlington a deserved lead.

The midfielder then came close to doubling his tally when he broke clear of his marker in the box, but he headed wide with only Drench to beat.

Avenue finally found themselves on the front foot for a brief spell as the final whistle approached, but Jamie Spencer’s tame effort couldn’t find the back of the net after Nicky Clee cut the ball back to the midfielder.

Frank Mulhern offered a spark in Avenue’s tiring frontline, with the forward’s introduction rejuvenating Mark Bower’s side in the final fifteen minutes.

Further hope was offered when Darlington’s Stephen Thompson saw red for a second bookable offence after a dive, but the visitors held on to seal an impressive victory.

Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Toulson (Mulhern 68’), Clee, Wroe (c), Killock, Havern, Brooksby (Vidal 50’), Pybus (Nowakowski 76’), Boyes, Johnson, Spencer.

Unused substitutes: Hill, Smith.

Darlington: Pears, Trotman, O’Hanlon, Turnbull, Heaton, Galbraith, Gillies (Brown 84’), Wheatley, Styche (c) (Mills 89’), Syers, Thompson.

Unused substitutes: Scott, Bancroft, Saunders

Attendance: 773

Referee: David Underwood

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8 Feb 2018

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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6 Feb 2018

Match Report: Bradford Park Avenue 5-0 Gainsborough Trinity

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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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6 Feb 2018

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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4 Feb 2018

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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