A much improved Avenue battle back from a one goal deficit to notch their first point of the 2019/20 season.

Bradford Park Avenue made the 225 mile round trip to the Gateshead International Stadium in their fourth game of the 2019/20 season, the second of interim manager, Marcus Law’s regime, which saw the Avenue score their first goal and earn their first point of the season.

Bradford were determined to make a strong impact, which they did. French centre-back Nelson Digbeu came dangerously close to hitting the back of the net in only the 6^th minute with a headed effort that was well saved by Brad James.

This attempt on goal only proved to spur on the home side who for the next fifteen minutes dominated the lion’s share of possession and attacking play.

In the 32^nd minute Gateshead’s patience was rewarded, with JJ O’Donnell slipping past the static Bradford defence to poke in a low-crossed effort from Nicky Deverdics.

Refusing to accept defeat, the energetic visitors pulled themselves together and gave an inspiring performance until the half time whistle sounded.

Second Half

Park Avenue emerged from the tunnel refreshed from the break to lay on the pressure. However they were initially unable to capitalise on the pressure due to some determined defending and a number of dangerous attacking runs being deemed offside.

However, the visitors finally got the reward.  In the 59^th minute Elliot Holmes crossed to the edge of the box, a perfectly weighted centre found Lewis Knight, who had no trouble firmly putting the bell into the top right corner to score Bradford’s opening goal of the season. 

Lewis’s inspiring opening goal visibly increased the squad’s morale and confidence with Alex Hurst coming devastatingly close to putting Park Avenue ahead with a strike from 30 yards out, which took a deflection off a Gateshead defender and was frantically cleared.

Bradford’s attacking domination slowed to a halt going into the last 15 minutes of open play. Moran received a yellow card and Gateshead took advantage of the careful defending and proceeded to bombard Jack Bennett’s area with a litany of crosses that challenged the away side’s defensive resolve. However the young goalkeeper, (a product of American partner club Nebraska Bugeaters) on his League debut had a solid first outing. 

Bradford successfully defended the scoreline until the 94^th minute, where Greg Olley was taken out on the left flank with a late tackle from Ben Hedley. Bennett was called into action for the last time, athletically punching out the dangerous ball as it pierced the Bradford box.

Teams

Gateshead

Brad James

Alex Nicholson

Scott Barrow

Connor Oliver

Toby Lees

Mike Williamson

Nicky Deverdics

Liam Agnew

Josh Kayode

Greg Olley

JJ O’Donnell

Subs

Connor Thomson

Sam Guthrie

Danny Greenfield

Jordan Preston

Elliot Forbes

Bradford (Park Avenue)

Jack Bennett (GK)

Ben Hedley

Akeem Hinds

Mitchell Lund

Jon Moran

Nelson Digbeu

Isaac Marriott

Elliot Holmes

Zayn Hakeem

Lewis Knight

Alex Hurst

Subs

Amos Kabeya

Charlie Andrew

Sam Wright

Jake Croft

Matty Clarke

Attendance 1001

Match Officials

Referee: Paul Brown

Assistants: James Bancroft & Adam Nichol

Photo Credit: Charlie Waugh

Bradford (Park Avenue) showed signs of improvement but couldn’t prevent a third defeat of the season against Kidderminster Harriers.

Marcus Law led the team out for the first time since his interim appointment, however goals from Corey Davidson, Reece Williams and Ashley Chambers saw Kidderminster take all three points from a blustery Horsfall Stadium.

French centre-back Nelson Digbeu made his debut from the start, while fellow new recruit Amos Kabeya was among the substitutes after the pair were announced as available for the match just hours before kick-off.

Conditions were tricky in Bradford, and with Avenue playing against the wind in the first period, Law’s side struggled to enjoy and substantial periods of pressure. 

Both sides were still adjusting to the elements when the visitors took the lead, the ball falling to left back Davidson, whose low, angled strike from just inside the box zipped into Charlie Andrew’s bottom left-hand corner.

Moments later, Isaac Marriott caused the first sight of danger for Avenue from outside the box, fizzing a low strike comfortably wide of the post. 

Skipper Ben Hedley then forced visiting goalkeeper Cameron Gregory into his first piece of action, pushing a well-struck free-kick round the post, with Alex Hurst firing over from the resulting corner.

Ryan Johnson glanced a header well wide for Harriers, before Davidson tried his luck once more, a powerful free-kick deflecting wide off the wall.

A set-piece did however ultimately lead to Avenue’s downfall, the hosts failed to clear Weeks’ corner and Liverpool loanee Williams headed into the top corner.

Kidderminster were looking to extend their lead even further before the break, but some brave defending saw Richard Peniket and Ed Williams unable to finish, Jon Moran at the heart of the action with a terrific block.

The game restarted in an open manner, Lewis Knight dragging a shot wide after another dangerous burst into the box, before blocks from Digbeu and Moran kept out Peniket and Chambers.

Peniket then thought he’d got on the scoresheet as he brought down a floated long ball and found the bottom corner, but the linesman’s flag denied him despite the former Halifax forward’s protests.

Avenue were clinging onto the game as Chambers ran through and should have scored, but a tremendous save from Charlie Andrew saw his powerful effort tipped away, before Peniket ran clear on the right but could only find the side-netting.

Hurst then put in a dangerous low cross which was deflected just behind substitute Kabeya, before Andrew was again on hand to deny Sam Austin at the other end.

The hosts huffed and puffed, but the game was made completely secure in the 87th minute, as Chambers went one-on-one with Moran and managed to squeeze a shot past the Bradford defender and an on-rushing Andrew.

Knight could have opened Avenue’s account for the season in stoppage time, as Hurst’s floated ball over the top found him deep inside the Kidderminster area, but his prodded effort went comfortably over the bar.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Andrew, Lund, Hinds, Marriott, Digbeu, Moran, Hurst, Hedley (C, Holmes 68), Hakeem (Kabeya 60), Knight, Clarke (Dockerty 68)

Subs not used: Croft, Wright

Bookings: Knight (44), Hedley (60), Moran (77)

Kidderminster Harriers: Gregory, Austin, Davidson (Higginson 63), R. Williams, Moyo (C), Johnson, Weeks, Butterfield (Prosser 89), Chambers (Scott 90+3), E. Williams, Peniket

Subs not used: Mountjoy, Lewth

Goals: Davidson (14), R. Williams (39), Chambers (87)

Bookings: Davidson (45+3), Weeks

Attendance: 379