MATCH REPORT: Bradford (Park Avenue) 2-1 Chester

Bradford (Park Avenue)’s hopes of completing an unlikely and miraculous great escape were given a massive boost as they beat promotion hopeful’s Chester 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Horsfall Stadium.

It had been a long time coming for an Avenue side who hadn’t won a game since December, and had been on the losing end of some very unfair results over the last couple of months of the season.

This time though, Bradford were finally rewarded for what was a terrific performance against one of the league’s best sides. It was a very cagey opening to the game for both sides, with the wind certainly playing a factor in that. At some points, you didn’t even know where the ball was going to land due to the sheer strength of the wind, but fortunately, it seemed that Avenue were the ones who were able to adapt best to the wintery conditions.

Because of the conditions, it always felt like the first goal was going to be vital and it was the Avenue who grabbed it. Tom Clare’s original strike from a superb Ryan Toulson cross struck the post. A melee then erupted on the goal line, and no one really seemed to know where the ball was. Eventually the ball looked like it struck Clare, seemingly off an attempted clearance by one of the Chester defenders and fell into the net.

Ugly goal or not, Mark Bower won’t have cared and it meant his side entered the break 1-0 ahead. However, it was important to not get carried away as Avenue also took a 1-0 lead into half time in the reverse fixture earlier this season and lost the game. It looked like it was going to be a repeat of that as Chester equalised on 50 minutes, Matty Waters scoring directly from a corner after Nicholson was unable to get a hold of the ball.

From then on, both sides enjoyed their fair share of possession and whoever got the third goal was surely going to win the game at this point. Luck this time was on Bradford’s side as it was they who got the all important third goal, and this time it was captain Oli Johnson nodding home after a long throw in from Lewis Knight.

Chester put a lot of pressure on the Avenue defence as the game reached it’s latter stages, but the Bradford defence held firm with a man-of-the-match performance from centre back Mitch Lund.

The result now leaves the Avenue 13 points from safety, but with plenty of confidence going into a mid week clash against Kings Lynn and a huge game next weekend against fellow relegation rivals Curzon Ashton.

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MATCH PREVIEW: Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Chester

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After a three week lay off due to postponed fixtures, Bradford (Park Avenue) finally return to the pitch this weekend as they welcome Chester to the Horsfall Stadium.

It’s been a long time since the Avenue last had a game, with this weekend marking a month since their last fixture which was an agonising 2-1 home defeat to fellow relegation candidates Gloucester City in a loss which really derailed most hope that the Avenue might’ve had for escaping relegation from the National League North this season.

It’s been an up and down couple of weeks for Bradford’s opponents. After grabbing a huge victory against Kings Lynn, who are runaway favourites to win the league, Chester then followed that up with a 3-2 home loss to fellow promotion rivals Brackley Town in their last outing. They currently sit in 4th place in the table so will be looking to further secure their spot in the playoffs this weekend.

Last time the Avenue and Chester met, it was just three months ago when Bradford came very close to leaving the Northwest with atleast a point. Avenue took a 1-0 lead into half time through Billy Priestley’s goal, but Chester were able to turn the game on it’s head early on in the second half on the way to winning the game 2-1.

After such a long lay off though, Mark Bower is expecting to have a fully fit team at his disposal and will be hoping that the extra rest will have his squad extra fuelled up for a run in that will need plenty of victories if Avenue are to have any chance of surviving the drop.

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Right Back Karl Byrne Joins The Avenue

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Mark Bower has clinched the signing of right-back Karl Byrne following his mutual release from Boston United.

Byrne who has had previous spells with Cabinteely and Frickley Athletic, joined the Pilgrims at the start of the 2019/20 season following a successful trial spell.

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ACADEMY TRIALS | Friday 27th March 2020

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Bradford (Park Avenue) are running an open trial session for both male and female 16 to 18-year olds in an attempt to find players to join the clubs Academy sides for the 2020/21 season.

The club is looking to find players for:

  • The Men’s Academy Squad
  • The Ladies’ Academy Squad
  • The Under 19’s Squad

The trials will take place at the University of Bradford training facility, behind the Laisteridge Lane Student Village.

Address:
Laisteridge Lane Student Village Bradford
Laisteridge Lane,
Bradford,
BD5 0NH

The trials will take place from 3-5pm on Friday 27th March 2020.

Please note suitable footwear for 3G playing surface will be required.

If you are interested in attending please complete the below registration form and email this to Des Hazel – desmond_hazel@hotmail.com

Academy Trial 2020 Registration Form

Can’t make this trail? Don’t worry as the club will be hosting trials on the last Friday of every month.

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Match Postponed: Leamington Vs Bradford (Park Avenue)

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Due to incessant rain over the past few days a early morning pitch inspection has been carried out.

Following that pitch inspection by a local referee the pitch has been confirmed as waterlogged and the game has been called off.

Details of a re-arranged date will be released as soon as they are known.

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MATCH PREVIEW: Leamington vs Bradford (Park Avenue)

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After a long two weeks without a game, Bradford (Park Avenue) return to the pitch on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Warwickshire to take on Leamington in the National League North, weather pending.

Avenue will be desperate to get back underway, hoping to right the wrong of the agonising 2-1 defeat at home to Gloucester City last time out. The defeat left Avenue 15 points from safety with just 12 games left to salvage their season.

It promises to be a tough task for the Avenue to overcome, but it is the price they have paid for the terrible start they had to the season, and for the costly mistakes that they have committed over the last few months of the season. Following the defeat to Gloucester, it meant that Bradford’s winless run in the league was extended to 10 games — a number Mark Bower and his players will be desperately hoping to put to an end on Saturday.

One player not apart of that, however, will be Liam Hughes, who left the club last week for Frickley Athletic. Hughes had been playing at centre half for the Green Army for most of the season, and now leaves a hole that Bower will be hopeful to replace.

Leamington were able to end their own poor run of form last time out, recording a big 1-0 victory at home against Southport and they will be hoping to start a winning streak of their own. They currently sit in 16th place in the National League North, but their victory against Southport will certainly have helped relieve some of the pressure that had been put on them after going 7 games without a win.

Bradford, though, are a team in dire need of a victory and will need to pick up all three points if they want to give themselves any hope of a great escape this season.

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ACADEMY TRIALS | Friday 28th February 2020

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Every month Bradford (Park Avenue) will be hosting open
trails to find young prospects to join the clubs Academy sides for the 2020/21
season.

The trails are open to 16-18-year old male and female players,
as the club is searching for players to join the Men’s and Ladies’ Academies as well as candidates to join our Under 19’s squad.

The trials will take place at the University of Bradford
training facility, behind the Laisteridge Lane Student Village.

The trials will take place from 3-5pm on Friday 28th February 2020.

Please note suitable footwear for 3G playing surface will be required.

Can’t make this trail? Don’t worry as the club will be hosting trials on the last Friday of every month.

Address:
Laisteridge Lane Student Village Bradford
Laisteridge Lane,
Bradford,
BD5 0NH

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Bradford Bulls Vs Castleford Tigers

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The Horsfall Stadium will host its first ever game of Rugby League this evening when the Bradford Bulls Reserves take on Castleford Tigers Reserves.

Kick off is at 8pm with entry costing £5 for adults £2 for concessions and £0 for junior. However all Bradford Bulls and Bradford (Park Avenue) season ticket holders can get entry to the game for just £2.

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