Bradford (Park Avenue) look to return to winning ways as they travel to Boston United this Saturday.

Marcus Law’s Avenue have lost two home games on the bounce, following their first win of the season on Bank Holiday Monday.

Bradford had in fact kept successive clean sheets in the previous two games, but three-goal hauls for both Telford and Farsley saw Law’s men fail to register any points from their double header of home matches.

Contrasting Avenue’s results, Boston have lost just once this term, running out 2-0 victors away at Kettering in their fixture on Tuesday night.

A run of two wins and a draw from their last three has seen them keep a trio clean sheets on the bounce, with a defence which includes former Bradford man Simon Ainge.

The powerful centre back is joined in the squad by a number of fellow former Harrogate Town men, the likes of Peter Crook, Luke Shiels and Andy Thanoj to name but a few.

A number of draws has left the side sitting in mid-table though, with the win over Kettering pushing them up to tenth.

Bradford, meanwhile, missed their chance to overtake Kettering and Spennymoor, and remain second-from-bottom in the National League North standings.

Law will be hoping for a return to happiness on the road, where four of their five points have been gained this term.

Recent League Form

Boston United
Kettering Town (A) W 2-0
Hereford (A) D 0-0
Altrincham (H) W 5-0
Gloucester City (A) L 0-3
Guiseley (H) D 1-1

Bradford (Park Avenue)
Farsley Celtic (H) L 0-3
AFC Telford United (H) L 2-3
Darlington (A) W 1-0
Blyth (H) D 0-0
Alfreton (A) L 0-4

Last Time Out

Boston United: Crook, Byrne, Whittle, Thanoj, Ainge, Shiels, Platt, Abbott, Knowles (Clare 81), Walker (Thewlis 74), Rollins (Jackson 85)

Bradford (Park Avenue):  Bennett, Lund (c), Calder, Wood, Digbeu, Bazeley, Knight, Marriott (Holmes 67), Cresswell, Hurst, Headley (Dockerty 58)

Admission Prices
Adult – £13
Concession (OAP, Student) – £10
Under-16 – £4

Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes

League sponsors Vanarama have been busy compiling their August Assessment

It’s been a good month for….

Alfreton Town – Billy Heath admitted himself that his side was lacking last season and he made a number of changes over the summer. And although they might have taken a few games to get going, it was worth waiting for! One win in the first half of the month but maximum points from the second. New signing Amari Morgan-Smith seems to have found his rhythm which is making the rest of the league sit up and take note of the Reds.

It’s been a bad month for….

Garry Thompson and Marc Richards – The management pair were given their marching orders from Bradford (Park Avenue) and Hereford respectively. Thompson lasted just two games in charge of the Avenue but was relieved of his duties after back-to-back 5-0 defeats. Richards’ tenure came to an end after his first defeat of the season to King’s Lynn.

Star performer….

Aaron Martin – They say one man doesn’t make a team, but Guiseley frontman Martin is testing the old saying to its limits. With a haul of ten goals, Martin has notched over half of the Lions goals so far this season as the West Yorkshire outfit enjoyed a fine start to 2019/20 – Sergio who?

Surprise package….

King’s Lynn Town – Not many will have predicted the rise of the Linnets so early on, but Ian Culverhouse didn’t read the script. Since losing their opener, only Brackley Town have taken even a single point from them – with eye-catching wins against Hereford, AFC Telford and Darlington the pick of the bunch.

Standout result….

Farsley Celtic 3-1 Darlington – Not many would’ve given the Celts a sniff against Alun Armstrong’s new-look Darlington side. But the new boys showed they weren’t here simply to make up the numbers and found themselves two goals ahead inside 17 minutes! Jimmy Spencer put them three up ten minutes before the break, meaning Adam Campbell’s second-half striker was merely a consolation.

Focus on – Bradford (Park Avenue)

After a tough start that saw Garry Thompson leave after two games, Marcus Law seems to be heading in the right direction with his new side. After picking up their first points of the season at Gateshead, a draw with Blyth Spartans was quickly followed with a first win at Darlington – both games bringing much-needed clean sheets in the process. The month ended on a sour note however with defeat to AFC Telford – there’s plenty of time left!

Stat-Attack

Record – L-L-L-D-L-D-W-L

Goals For/Against – 4/21

League position – 21st

Top scorer – Lewis Knight (2)

Sponsors Vanarama have recently launched the Club Reward scheme to help fans back their club’s budget. Every time a fan takes out a brand new van lease with Vanarama or a brand new car lease with Mototama their club will earn £100 and you will receive £30 cashback!

For the latest van leasing deals head to Vanarama.

For the latest car leasing deals head to Motorama.

Bradford (Park Avenue) winger Rod Orlando-Young has joined Ilkeston Town on a permanent transfer.

Orlando-Young lined up for The Robins as they won promotion from the Midland Football League Premier Division under the guidance of now-Avenue assistant Lee Fowler.

The 24-year-old, who had previously won the chance to train with Bundesliga side Red Bull Leipzig, played just once in a short stint at the Horsfall Stadium.

He came off the bench at half-time of the 4-0 defeat to Alfreton, missing a glorious chance to bring Avenue back into the game, skewing wise Isaac Marriott’s pow centre when it looked a certain goal.

Everyone at Avenue would like to thank Rod for all his efforts with the club, and wish him all the best for the future.

Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes

Bradford (Park Avenue) will look to earn their first home win of the season as near neighbours Farsley Celtic visit the Horsfall Stadium on Tuesday.

Avenue won for the first time this term with a dramatic victory over Darlington last Monday, but slipped to defeat at the hands of Telford at the weekend.

Marcus Law’s side managed to double their season’s goal tally in the Telford clash, as Lewis Knight and Riccardo Calder both got on the scoresheet, but a late Brendon Daniels winner condemned them to defeat.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Law and Avenue, who had previously managed two consecutive clean sheets against Darlington and Blyth.

New signing Isaiah Bazeley came off the bench for an Avenue side who had seen five players depart during the week.

Lewis Rathbone had joined Pickering Town on loan, while Zayn Hakeem, Sam Wright, Jake Croft and Matty Clarke were all allowed to leave the club.

Tuesday’s visitors Farsley bring a number of familiar faces with them to the Horsfall Stadium, with former Avenue men Adam Clayton, Nathan Turner and Mark Bett among their ranks.

Fellow former Bradford winger Paul Walker this week joined Scarborough Athletic on loan, and hence won’t make his return to a ground on which he became a firm fan’s favourite over the years.

Promoted in the summer, Farsley have had an up and down start to the season, but come into the Avenue clash on the back of two straight defeats.

A home loss against fellow league newcomers King’s Lynn was followed by a comfortable defeat at Altrincham on Saturday as Adam Lakeland’s men continue to find their feet.

The match kicks off at 7.45pm at the Horsfall Stadium.

Recent League Form

Bradford (Park Avenue)
AFC Telford United (H) L 2-3
Darlington (A) W 1-0
Blyth (H) D 0-0
Alfreton (A) L 0-4
Gateshead (A) D 1-1

Farsley Celtic
Altrincham (A) L 1-3
King’s Lynn (H) L 1-2
Gateshead (A) W 3-0
Spennymoor Town (H) W 1-0
Southport (H) L 0-3

Last Time Out

Bradford (Park Avenue): Taylor (c), Lund (Bazeley 56), Calder, Wood (Holmes 56), Moran (Gibbons 64), Digbeu, Knight, Marriott, Dockerty, Hurst, Headley

Farsley Celtic: Wynne, Richards, Hayhurst (B. Atkinson 74), Higgins (Ellis 74), Allan, Clayton (c), Walton, C. Atkinson, Spencer, Cartman (Syers 74), Parkin

Admission Prices
Adult – £10
Concession (OAP, Student) – £8
Under-17 – £1

Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes

Bradford (Park Avenue) have today signed right-back Isaiah Bazeley-Graham on loan from Premier League side Aston Villa.

The 19-year-old full-back has joined Marcus Law’s side until January, being allowed to leave Dean Smith’s top flight side on loan.

Bazeley-Graham has featured heavily for Villa’s under-23 side since the start of last season, without managing to break through into the senior set-up.

He was also part of Villa’s success in the annual end of season ‘Soccer Sevens’ trophy, a competition which has previously seen Villa blood the likes of Jack Grealish and Gabby Agbonlahor.

Right-back was a position Law knew he needed to strengthen in, especially after Mitch Lund was forced off at half-time in the win over Darlington on Monday with a groin injury.

Bazeley-Graham goes straight into the squad for Saturday’s home match against AFC Telford United.

Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes

Matty Clarke, Jake Croft, Zayn Hakeem and Sam Wright have all departed Bradford (Park Avenue) by mutual consent.

Interim manager Marcus Law is continuing to shape his Avenue squad, and following the arrival of a number of new signings, the four players have been allowed to find new clubs.

Meanwhile, midfielder Lewis Rathbone has joined Pickering Town on a month’s loan.

The former Nebraska Bugeaters midfielder has struggled for opportunities in Avenue’s young squad, and has been allowed to enjoy some much-needed game time at Pickering.

Fellow midfielders Clarke and Wright have hardly been involved since Law took charge, both sitting as unused substitutes in the 1-1 draw at Gateshead in their last involvement at the club.

Both players started the 5-0 defeat at home to Guiseley – Garry Thompson’s final match in charge – and have since been unable to force their way into an increasingly strong side.

Full-back Croft also last appeared in the defeat to Guiseley, but has seen the arrival of Riccardo Calder and the return of Jaheim Headley limit his opportunities.

Forward Hakeem, who started in Law’s first three matches in charge, has suffered a similar fate, as the interim manager has strengthened in his position with the likes of Myron Gibbons and Joseph Chidyausiku.

Avenue would like to thank all four players for their efforts in red, amber and black, and wish them all the best for the future.

Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes