A catalogue of defensive errors cost Bradford (Park Avenue) dearly as they were beaten 5-3 by Chester. 

The Blues hadn’t hosted anyone since early August due to stadium damage but marked their return to the Swansway Chester Stadium with an impressive win.

Bradford headed into the game as one of the league’s most in-form sides and made a dream start. Jake Beesley accelerated down the left flank before squaring to Ben McKenna, who steered past Chester goalkeeper Grant Shenton to fire the visitors ahead.

Chester, however, produced the perfect response when Anthony Dudley’s cross caused chaos in the box and allowed Dan Mooney to bundle home.

The momentum shifted in Chester’s favour after the equaliser and Craig Mahon forced Steven Drench to palm a thunderous volley wide of the post.

Dangerous forward Dudley, who had provided an assist for Chester’s leveller, etched his own name on to the scoresheet with a powerful header in the 11th minute after connecting with a superb delivery from Simon Grand.

Both sides looked nervy in defence and looked to capitalise on each other’s defensive fragilities.

Nicky Wroe darted forward before searching for Oli Johnson with a lofted pass but Steven Howson headed clear.

Blues wingers Mahon and Mooney caused endless problems for the visitors and the latter was unlucky to see his powerful drive saved by Drench.

Mahon then demonstrated some deft footwork to evade several challenges before finding Matty Hughes, who wriggled away from Nicky Wroe but struck into the clutches of Drench.

Hughes continued to make intelligent runs and find pockets of space in and around the Bradford box but headed wide after connecting with an in-swinging cross from Dudley.

Chester were eventually rewarded for their pressure when Mahon darted into the box before skipping past Nicky Clee and poking past Drench.

A golden opportunity to pull a goal back was then handed to OIi Johnson on a plate, but he blazed over after Jake Beesley had rounded Shenton and squared to him.

Beesley was the most lively of Bradford’s attacking contingent and spun past two Chester midfielders before threading through to Johnson once again. The forward’s cross, however, was diverted away from an on-rushing Ben McKenna by Jon Moran.

With half-time looming, Bradford clawed one back as Shenton saved a strike from Johnson and Beesley stabbed the rebound into a vacated net.

HALF-TIME: Chester 3-2 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Chester’s lead was very nearly extended just four minutes after the restart, but Mooney dragged wide after the ball was worked to him in a swift counter-attack.

Despite a spell of early pressure, it was Bradford that drew first blood in the second-half. A powerful header from Conor Branson was saved by Shenton but the goalkeeper pushed the ball into the path of Johnson, who tucked away.

Chester came close to producing yet another quick response but Hughes’ curling effort struck the woodwork.

Barely a minute later, the hearts of Chester supporters were in their mouths as Shenton was forced to pluck a Clee free-kick out of the top left-hand corner.

It was then Drench’s turn to produce an impressive stop, thwarting Mooney after he had wriggled away from Shane Killock and unleashed a powerful strike,

The entertainment levels didn’t dwindle as the half progressed and Danny Lowe was forced to make a crucial block to deny Dudley after the forward embarked on a mazy run and pulled the trigger.

Mahon then saw a drilled effort deflected wide and Grand’s looping header dropped over the crossbar as pressure mounted on Bradford.

Chester regained their lead with fifteen minutes left on the clock through Mooney, who found the bottom corner with a composed finish after Mark Ross gifted possession away in a dangerous area.

Debutant Luke Jordan was introduced in the 80th minute to stretch Bradford with his pace and delivered a cross with such venom that Drench lost grip on the ball. Fortunately, the goalkeeper recovered to pounce before Dudley could.

Jordan then tangled with Branson in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Dudley stepped up to convert the penalty and wrap up the three points for Chester.

FULL-TIME: Chester 5-3 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Chester: Shenton, Dominic Smalley, Grand, Burton (c), Moran, Howson, Mooney (Deane Smalley 80′), Stopforth, Dudley, Hughes (Pritchard), Mahon (Jordan 80′).

Unused substitutes: Thomson, Noble.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Lowe, Wroe, Killock (c), Havern (Nowakowski 77′), McKenna (Knight 73′), Branson, Beesley, Johnson, Clee (Spencer 63′)

Unused substitutes: Boshell, Dawson.

Referee: Aaron Jackson

 

 

FC United of Manchester secured a late draw against Bradford (Park Avenue) at Broadhurst Park.

The Avenue took a two-goal lead thanks to Shane Killock and Jake Beesley but the home side fought back and after an equaliser from Brodie Litchfield, FC United of Manchester equalised from the spot with Kurt Willoughby converting in the final minute.

The away side started well and dominated the game. Despite chances from Beesley and Oli Johnson being missed, Bradford took a deserved lead. From a corner, captain Killock found the back of the net from close range to the delight of the travelling supporters.

Ten minutes after the break, Mark Bower’s men doubled their lead in fortuitous circumstances. Good pressure from Beesley on the hosts defence and goalkeeper forced a bit of confusion and eventually the ball bounced favourably and nestled in the bottom corner.

But, it was the home side who came back into the game. Immediately after a substitution for Bradford, Litchfield capitalised by slotting home a loose ball which hit the post to halve their deficit.

Then, in the final minute, the home side were given the opportunity to equalise after a foul from Luca Havern inside the penalty area. Striker Willoughby stepped up and struck a low right-footed effort into the bottom corner.

FC United of Manchester: Crellin, Senior (Tattum 68), Logan (Crawford 75), O’Halloran, Ashworth, Lynch, Kay, Baird (Banister 55), Willoughby, Litchfield, Donohue

Subs not used: Simoes, Affleck

Yellow: Lynch

Scorers: Litchfield (61), Willoughby (pen 90)

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Clee, Branson, Killock, Havern, McKenna (Knight 61), Wroe, Beesley, Johnson (Lowe 68), Spencer (Boshell 74)

Subs not used: Nowakowski, Dawson

Scorers: Killock (21), Beesley (55)

Bradford (Park Avenue) edged past Boston United to pick up their fifth win of the 2018/19 campaign. 

The opening stages provided little in the way of entertainment, and it seemed like the two sides were feeling each other out in the opening exchanges.

The game suddenly burst into life in the 14^th minute, when the hosts were awarded a penalty.

Oli Johnson slid the ball into the path of an on-rushing Conor Branson, who had made a late surge into the box. Former Bradford defender Ryan Qualter brought Branson down, allowing Oli Johnson to step up and convert from 12-yards.

The goal breathed new life into Bradford but also lit a spark in Boston, creating a much more entertaining affair.

Pilgrims stopper George Willis had to vacate the six-yard box in order to thwart Jake Beesley, who slipped in behind the Boston defence but couldn’t reach the ball ahead of the visitors’ goalkeeper.

After Nicky Wroe felled Brad Abbott on the edge of the box, Jack Marriott was given the opportunity to test Bradford with a free-kick. His deflected shot fell at the feet of Jonny Margetts, who after losing his footing, knocked the ball towards a grateful Steven Drench.

Wroe then split open the Boston defence with an exquisite through ball, but Beesley dragged his effort wide.

The on-loan marksman makes a habit of being in the right place at the right time, and he was alert to meet Wroe’s deflected free-kick. However, with bodies surrounding him, he poked wide.

Boston’s Margetts found himself in a similar position moments later, as Nicky Walker’s free-kick found its way to him after cannoning off the crossbar. Luca Havern did well to edge the winger wide, causing him to fire into the side-netting.

The Pilgrims found the side-netting again barely a minute later as Jack Marriott accelerated away from Mark Ross but couldn’t finish.

On the stroke of half-time, a delivery from Lewis Knight caused chaos and both Beesley and Wroe had shots blocked.

HALF-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-0 Boston United

The visitors were quick out of the blocks after the interval and Drench was forced to beat away a close-range header from Spencer Harris.

Bradford, however, almost caught Boston out with a swift counter-attack that resulted in Jamie Spencer coming close to doubling the hosts’ lead. Knight delivered from the right, but Spencer could only watch as his header clipped the post on its way wide.

Another quick break-away almost provided Bradford supporters with the second goal they craved, but Beesley fired wide after combining well with Johnson.

Veteran striker Craig Westcarr, formerly of Portsmouth and Walsall, was introduced on the hour mark and almost made an immediate impact. He spun away from Nicky Clee and drilled across the face of goal, but fellow substitute Cieron Keane failed to meet it.

As the hunt for an equaliser intensified, Bradford stopper Drench found himself being peppered with shots. The goalkeeper, however, is in a rich vein of form and continued to impress with saves to deny Walker and Andi Thanoj.

Keane and Westcarr had made Boston a much more dangerous attacking force following their introductions. The former nodded into the path of the latter but Westcarr blasted wide under pressure from Havern.

The Pilgrims seemingly ran out of steam as the final whistle approached and Bradford were successful in pinning the visitors in their own half for prolonged spells.

They eventually broke out of their own half and won a free-kick when Thanoj was tripped, but the midfielder’s chipped effort flew wide.

FULL-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-0 Boston United

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Clee, Branson, Killock (c), Havern, Wroe, Knight (Nowakowski 74’), Beesley, Johnson (Toulson 82’), Spencer (Dawson 66’).

Unused substitutes: Atkinson, Boshell.

Boston United: Willis (c), Davies, Gough, Thanoj, Harris, Qualter, Wafula (Johnson 80’), Abbott, Marriott (Westcarr 61’), Margetts (Keane 61’), Walker.

Unused substitutes: Middleton, Lees.

Referee: Dean Hulme

Report: Tom Coates

Bradford (Park Avenue) jumped to third in the National League North table after seeing off Hereford at Edgar Street.

It was Bradford’s fourth win in six games, and the West Yorkshire side swept aside the fancied hosts with another encouraging display.

Mark Bower made two changes from the side that held Stockport County, reinstating Nicky Wroe to the starting eleven and handing Lewis Knight his first start. Ben McKenna withdrew from the squad altogether with an injury and Chris Dawson had to settle for a place on the bench. In a formation that would infuriate kit number traditionalists, Wroe lined-up in central midfield despite sporting the number seven shirt and Knight operated on the right flank whilst wearing number eight.

The hosts started brightly, and Johnson had to make a crucial interception to prevent Mike McGrath’s pass reaching an on-rushing Harry White. Moments later, Lewis Knight had to blast clear as an advancing Jordan Liburd came close to connecting with a cross from the right.

White then nodded into the path of Eliot Richards, who arrived in the box unmarked but skewed wide.

The Bulls threatened again but once again failed to convert as Keyon Reffell failed to reach McGrath’s delivery ahead of Mark Ross.

The hosts had ventured forward on numerous occasions without troubling Steven Drench and the best opportunity of the opening twenty minutes fell to the visitors. Martin Horsell was forced to tip a powerful header from Oli Johnson over crossbar at point blank range and it proved to be the catalyst for a shift in momentum.

Wroe delivered from the right and found Conor Branson, who powered a header past Horsell in the Hereford goal.

McGrath sent a free-kick into the clutches of Drench barely a minute later as the hunt for an equaliser before the interval began. After Luca Havern challenged Jordan Lam strongly, the rebound fell to Danny Greenslade and the left-back forced Drench to push his thunderous effort wide.

Greenslade and Lam then combined well to release the former, but his cross was blocked by a back-tracking Johnson.

Greenslade accelerated down the left flank again as Hereford searched for the elusive equaliser and unleashed a vicious strike after cutting in, but was thwarted by Drench’s excellent save.

With half-time approaching, Jamie Spencer unleashed a thunderous effort of his own from around 30-yards out but watched as it whistled over the woodwork.

HALF-TIME: Hereford 0-1 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Johnson cut open Hereford’s defence within minutes of the restart. He threaded through to Jake Beesley, only for the forward to be dispossessed by a recovering Ryan Green before he could pull the trigger.

Hereford, however, broke quickly and Drench had to be alert to palm Harry White’s effort wide.

The lively Johnson was a persistent thorn in the Bulls’ side and became more dangerous as the second-half progressed. He skipped past Greenslade with ease and delivered from the left, but Beesley failed to wriggle away from Jordan Liburd and the opposition’s captain cleared.

Calvin Dinsley had been introduced before the half-time interval and found McGrath in space with an inch-perfect pass, only for the midfielder to lose his footing and allow Shane Killock to clear.

Branson almost scored his second headed goal of the game on the hour mark, but his powerful effort was tipped over the crossbar by Horsell.

Despite having a lead to protect, the visitors remained keen to pile bodies forward when in possession and continued to enjoy opportunites as the game entered its final 25 minutes.

Beesley escaped his marker to slip in behind the Bulls backline, but saw a drilled effort beaten away by Horsell.

Barely 30 seconds later, a goal was nearly gifted to Mark Bower’s side. Keiran Thomas’ tame back pass was latched on to by Beesley, but the loanee failed to maintain his composure and blazed over.

Danny Boshell was introduced in the 76th minute and after just three minutes on the pitch, he won a penalty for his side. McGrath clipped the veteran’s ankles, giving Johnson the opportunity to step up and convert from 12-yards. The Bradford man did just that, steering the ball past Horsell to double the visitors’ advantage.

An instant reply was required to give the hosts a chance of salvaging a point, but Jamie Bird sent a volley wide after the ball fell kindly for the substitute on the edge of the box.

McGrath tried his luck from a similar position, but saw his left-footed strike saved by a seemingly unstoppable Drench.

The stopper was eventually beaten, as White made no mistake from the penalty spot after Ross had collided with Bird.

Hereford rallied, but White’s low drive from the right-hand side of the box was beaten away by Drench and it proved to be the final opportunity of the game.

FULL-TIME: Hereford 1-2 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Hereford: Horsell, Thomas, Greenslade (L. Smith 64′), Murphy, Green, Liburd (c), Reffell (Dinsley 35′), Richards, White, McGrath, Lam (Bird 61′).

Unused substitutes: H. Smith, Mayebi.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Clee, Branson, Killock (c), Havern, Wroe, Knight (Nowakowski 84′), Beesley, Johnson (Dawson 90+3′), Spencer (Boshell 76′)

Unused substitutes: Toulson, Atkinson.

Referee: Richard Gardner

Report: Tom Coates