Due to a number of requests the club are looking at running a supporters coach to Curzon Ashton Saturday 10th November. Seats cost £10 for adults and £5 for under 16’s and pick up times are still to be confirmed.
To book your seat please contact Neil Fawcett on 07811 959003
Bradford (Park Avenue) swept ten-man York City aside at Bootham Crescent.
The opening ten minutes were cagey, and it was York that found their rhythm first. The visitors found themselves pinned in their own half and Shane Killock was forced to launch himself in front of a Jordan Burrow shot to keep the scores level.
Bradford, however, grew into the game and began asking questions of a disjointed York backline.
Jamie Spencer found Nicky Wroe with a perfectly executed lofted pass but the midfielder lifted his effort over the crossbar.
The Minstermen launched a swift counter-attack but Steven Drench was on-hand to palm Burrow’s flick away from danger at point blank range.
Drama then ensued at Bootham Crescent when York captain Joe Tait saw red. Jake Beesley fell to the ground inside the box after a tussle with Tait and after the defender received his marching orders, a penalty was awarded.
Beesley made no mistake from 12-yards, stepping up confidently and steering the ball past Adam Bartlett.
The lead was nearly doubled when Conor Branson connected with Lewis Knight’s free-kick delivery, but Bartlett held the header.
Branson then tried his luck with a long-range piledriver as the interval approached but his speculative effort sailed over the woodwork.
HALF-TIME: York City 0-1 Bradford (Park Avenue)
Bradford raced out of the blocks after the restart and it didn’t take long for the visitors to add to their advantage. Knight drilled a cross in from the right, enabling Beesley to volley into the roof of the net and pile misery on ten-man York.
Just three minutes later, Bradford netted a third when Spencer’s stunning long-range strike found the top corner in sensational fashion.
As York’s desire for a goal intensified, they piled bodies forward in desperate search of a way back into a game that seemed beyond them.
Adriano Moke pulled back to substitute Jon Parkin, but the robust forward’s shot was blocked by Killock.
The Minstermen eventually found a way through when Sean Newton curled into the top corner from a free-kick.
The hosts then went close through debutant Lewis Hawkins, who saw his thunderous effort tipped over the crossbar by the outstretched glove of Drench.
Bradford remained a threat despite their comfortable lead and Ben McKenna saw a shot blocked after firing into a sea of bodies.
McKenna then notched Bradford’s fourth, firing into the top corner after Knight accelerated away from Allan and squared to the substitute.
Alex Hurst looked set to add a fifth as the full-time whistle approached, but his shot was blocked by Allan after weaving his way past two defenders.
FULL-TIME: York City 1-4 Bradford (Park Avenue)
York City: Bartlett, Law, Newton, Allan, Tait (c), Griffiths (Langstaff 78’), Harris (Bencherif 27’), Moke, Burrow, Wright (Parkin 45’), Hawkins.
Unused substitutes: Ferguson, Dyer.
Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Clee, Wroe, Killock (c), Havern, Spencer (Hurst 84’), Branson, Beesley, Johnson (McKenna 51’), Knight (Nowakowski 83’).
Unused substitutes: Toulson, Atkinson.
Referee: Scott Simpson
Attendance: 2, 289 (198 Bradford supporters)
HT: 0-1
Photo: John Rhodes
Bradford (Park Avenue) face York City today, who head into the fixture after suffering back-to-back defeats.
Bradford’s Yorkshire counterparts were swept aside by Spennymoor Town in midweek, just days after losing to AFC Telford United.
Mark Bower will be hoping to face a deflated York side, who trail Bradford by eight points in twelfth place. He is a well-known figure among York supporters after enjoying two loan spells at Bootham Crescent during his playing career. It will be the second consecutive game to pit the Bradford boss against one his former clubs following the visit of Darlington in midweek.
The two sides last met in January and the Citizens came out on top thanks to strikes from veteran forward Jon Parkin and winger Amari Morgan-Smith.
Bower will be hoping for a different result today but is aware that York boss Sam Collins may ring the changes after recent defeats:
“I know they’ve tinkered with formations this season and after losing to Spennymoor they’ll probably be looking to change things.
“It’s a great one for our lads. It’s great to go to a club like York, where there should be a decent crowd in, and play with no pressure. We can go and enjoy ourselves, express ourselves, and if we play the way we’re capable of, we give ourselves a chance of getting a result.”
GUIDE TO THE OPPONENTS:
The Gaffer:
Sam Collins
The 41-year-old was handed the reigns following a spell as caretaker manager. A former centre-back, he made over 200 appearances for Hartlepool United and also represented Huddersfield Town, Bury, Port Vale, Hull City and Swindon Town. Collins also enjoyed a spell with Bradford City as a coach, where he worked to develop the club’s young professionals.
One To Watch:
Sean Newton
The 30-year-old is the club’s captain and is an integral part of Sam Collins’ squad. A versatile defender, he joined the club from Wrexham in 2017 following a successful loan spell. He began his career with Chester City and has represented the likes of Droylsden, AFC Telford United, Stockport County, Lincoln City and Notts County throughout his career.
Following complaints by users of the cemetery Bradford Council have asked the club to ask supporters to refrain from parking in the cemetery. Visitors of the cemetery have complained about the language/loud voices and banging of car doors while they are visiting relatives.
Going forward the Abb Scot Lane gates will be locked and stewards will be placed on the Cemetery Road gate to prevent supporters from parking in there.
The club would like to encourage supporters to use the car park at the Park Road end of the ground which can be accessed from Cemetery Road behind the main stand. Parking in the car park is £2 or free for season ticket holders.
Thank for you co-operation.
Bradford (Park Avenue) manager Mark bower will be live on Talksport 2 today from 11:15. Tune in for the latest on Bradford Park Avenue, news, team talk and much much more.
We also hope to get a recording of the interview and will get this published for those who miss the live interview.
Photo: John Rhodes
Bradford (Park Avenue) were held to a 2-2 draw by Darlington at the Horsfall Stadium.
The Quakers posed a much greater threat than they did in the last meeting between the sides, when Mark Bower’s side knocked them out of the Emirates FA Cup.
It took just two minutes for Darlington take the lead, harshly bringing the hosts back down to earth following the high of Saturday’s win over Chorley. Jordan Nicholson exploited a gap in the Bradford midfield to burst through and find the top corner with a curling effort.
Mark Bower was then forced to make an early change when Danny Lowe sustained an injury. Nicky Clee entered the fray and was thrown in at the deep end as the Bradford backline dealt with an early onslaught.
Luca Havern had to be alert to thwart Harvey Saunders after a slick move involving the Darlington forward and Josef Wheatley carved the hosts open.
A miscued clearance from Steven Drench then landed at Luke Trotman’s feet and the full-back teed up Stephen Thompson, who blasted over the crossbar.
The visitors then doubled their lead as Nicholson grabbed his second, capping off a swift attacking move with a composed finish from close-range.
Bradford, however, responded quickly. Lewis Knight dispossessed Wheatley before teeing up Jamie Spencer, who saw two shots blocked. The ball then fell to Knight, whose effort was parried by Hemming into the direction of Oli Johnson, allowing the forward to head home.
A golden opportunity to draw level followed when Spencer drilled across the face of goal, but Branson fired wide after arriving at the back post.
Darlington had no intention of simply defending their lead and came very close to adding a third. Saunders weaved his way past several defenders but was denied by Drench in a one-on-one scenario.
The opposing stopper Hemming then made an impressive stop to keep the scores level, pushing Knight’s driven effort wide of the post.
Bradford eventually levelled proceedings through Nicky Clee, who rifled into the bottom corner after the ball was worked out to the left flank.
The first-half continued to be a poor advert for defending when Bradford gave away a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Havern felled Wheatley but Drench saved Thompson’s spot-kick at full stretch.
HALF-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 2-2 Darlington
Early drama ensued after the break when the visitors began appealing for a penalty within two minutes of the restart. There was a tangle of legs between Knight and Saunders, but the referee dismissed protests.
The tricky Nicholson was a thorn in Bradford’s side throughout the game but Clee made a superb last-ditch challenge to prevent the winger securing his hat-trick.
Nicholson then combined well with Trotman on the right flank but the latter’s shot flew wide.
Bradford appealed for a penalty of their own on the hour mark when Spencer insisted that his shot had struck the outstretched arm of Terrence Galbraith. The referee, however, ignored the fierce protests.
Both sides continued to hunt for the elusive winning goal but the defensive units had been significantly tightened since the half-time interval.
Beesley delivered the ball on a plate for Clee but Jonathan Burn launched himself in front of the thunderous effort.
Johnson then found himself in a promising position after the ball was threaded through to him by Knight, but his shot failed to find either side of Hemming.
It became apparent that the absence of a cutting edge would prevent either side edging themselves ahead as the game entered its final fifteen minutes.
Beesley lifted a powerful effort over the crossbar and Darlington’s Tom Elliott did the same minutes later.
Ben McKenna’s introduction as a substitute re-ignited the spark in Bradford’s frontline and his direct running caused problems on the left flank. He evaded the challenge of Burn before making an incisive dart into the box, but his strike was blocked by a sliding Trotman.
Branson has proven himself to be a goal threat from the heart of Bradford’s midfield but couldn’t weigh in to fire the hosts ahead, nodding over the woodwork after meeting a cross from the right.
A sliced clearance from Shane Killock allowed Nicholson to advance at an alarming pace but a miscued cross left Bradford off the hook as the ball rolled out for a goal-kick.
The hosts were given a stoppage-time scare when Galbraith connected with a teasing delivery from Elliott, but Drench plucked the defender’s volley out of the top left-hand corner.
FULL-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 2-2 Darlington
Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Lowe (Clee 7’), Wroe (McKenna 61’), Killock (c), Havern, Spencer, Branson, Beesley, Johnson, Knight (Hurst 83’).
Unused substitutes: Toulson, Nowakowski.
Darlington: Hemming, Trotman, Elliott, Burn, Hughes, Galbraith, Nicholson, Wheatley, Ainge (c) (Syers 83’), Saunders, Thompson (Henshall 83’).
Unused substitutes: Glover, Hall, Stansfield.
Referee: Aaron Bannister
Attendance: 625
With planned train strikes and limited parking the club are running a supporters coach to York City Saturday 3rd November. Due to popular demand a bigger coach has now been booked and only 10 seats are remaining. Seats cost £10 for adults and £5 for under 16’s. Pick up times are 10:30 from the Horsfall Stadium and 10:45 from Cedar Court and the plan would be to drop supporters off in the town centre a 12:00 and will be leaving the town centre at 18:00.
To book your seat please see Neil Fawcett at the Supporters Information Desk on match day or call him on 07811 959003
Having first met in the FA Cup in February of 1911, Bradford and Darlington faced each other another 43 times during Avenues days in the football league. The two sides matched up as equals over that time, with 18 wins apiece and 8 draws.
Recent history however has been somewhat more one sided, with Darlington winning 4 of the last 5 games. With Avenue notching the most recent victory over Darlington in this year’s FA Cup, the Quakers are sure to be out for revenge. But with current league standings, will Bowers men leave them quaking in their boots?
After a wonderful victory against Chorley on Saturday I wanted to write a short note of thanks and congratulations to everyone involved at the club, Mark and coaching staff, players and support staff, our volunteer workforce who make our games happen week in week out, and of course our fantastic supporters.
We don’t have a big budget for a club in our position but football is about more than money and we are well supplied with hard work and dedication. So who knows what we might achieve in the future?
The spirit and enthusiasm displayed by every member of our club on and off the pitch is what I genuinely believe sets us apart from some of our more fancied, larger rivals. Days like Saturday prove what spirit and enthusiasm can achieve.
As you know we are making changes and trying various ways to improve our club wherever possible. I am more confident than ever before that these changes will be successful but once again success will only happen with the help of everyone in our football family.
Thanks to you all for making my recent trip very enjoyable although my presence at the Kidderminster match may have cost us three points. Had I left the game with ten minutes left we might now be one point off the top of the table!
Somebody give Tony Niland a big hug from me!
Gareth
Chorley were condemned to their first defeat to the season by a spirited Bradford (Park Avenue).
The two sides cancelled each other out in the first-half, failing to showcase the attacking flair that both promotion-chasers possess.
Chorley did, however, demonstrate the defensive steel that allowed them to head into the game with an unblemished record.
The best opportunity of an otherwise uneventful first-half fell to Bradford’s Oli Johnson, but Matt Urwin was on-hand to deny the forward from close-range.
The hosts are also renowned for being resolute in their defending and frustrated the Magpies’ array of attacking talent. Luca Havern shepherded Marcus Carver wide to force the shot to come from an acute angle and Steven Drench produced an impressive to stop to thwart Josh O’Keefe.
Bradford were given a scare when Elliot Newby advanced at an alarmingly quick pace but his attempted through ball to Marcus Carver rolled through to a grateful Drench.
As the half-time break approached, both sides began to knock on the door and set the wheels in motion for an entertaining second-half.
HALF-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 0-0 Chorley
Chorley had a golden opportunity to take the lead after the break when Louis Almond connected with Adam Blakeman’s cross, but the Magpies defender nodded over the crossbar from 3-yards out.
Almond then latched on to a pass from Challoner but Drench produced a vital save when the forward poked towards the bottom right-hand corner.
The early Chorley chances seemed to rally Bradford, who began attacking with an increased sense of urgency.
Lewis Knight found Oli Johnson in the box and Urwin had to react swiftly in order to push the forward’s flick wide.
Knight then clipped into the box from the byline and found Jamie Spencer, whose header looped into the grateful clutches of the Chorley stopper.
Urwin then had to be alert to deny Nicky Wroe and Knight but Bradford eventually found a way through.
The hosts protested fiercely to the referee after Conor Branson was felled and the referee judged the incident to have taken place outside of the box. Mark Bower’s side, however, made the most of the opportunity. Knight’s free-kick delivery found the head of an on-rushing Beesley, who steered past the Magpies goalkeeper to edge Bradford ahead and silence the travelling supporters.
Minutes later, Chorley were denied an immediate reply when Courtney Meppen-Walter saw a header hooked off the line by Jamie Spencer in dramatic fashion after meeting a delivery from the left.
With just three minutes remaining on the clock, Drench performed heroics to retain Bradford’s lead as he tipped Josh Wilson’s header over the woodwork.
FULL-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-0 Chorley
Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Lowe, Wroe, Killock (c), Havern, Spencer (Nowakowski 86′), Branson, Beesley, Johnson (McKenna 71′), Knight (Clee 90+5′).
Unused substitutes: Toulson, Hurst.
Chorley: Urwin, Challoner, Blakeman, Teague (c), Leather, Meppen-Walter (Wilson 82′), A. Newby (Glynn 66′), O’Keefe, Carver, Almond, E. Newby.
Unused substitutes: Whitham, Cottrell, Anson.
Referee: Paul Brown
Attendance: 554
