The away side broke the deadlock as Danny Elliott’s rebound from a penalty gave his side the lead. With half-time approaching, it was another rebound that punished Bradford as John Johnston chipped Dan Atkinson and several Avenue players from the edge of the box.

After the break, Bradford recovered well and got back to level terms with goals from Luca Havern and Lewis Knight.

With 89 minutes on the clock, Kevin Morgan scored a wonder goal from 20 yards but an own Josh Askew own goal into added time sent the Avenue into celebration.

The Avenue started brightly, playing some decent football on the quick surface due to heavy rain in the region throughout the day.

Bradford could’ve taken an early lead as Knight’s shot was saved by Chester FC goalkeeper Louis Gray inside the area. From the rebound, Brad Dockerty’s left-footed effort was deflected wide from 12 yards.

Despite enjoying more of the possession, the Avenue conceded a penalty. Jamie Morgan skipped past a couple of challenges on the right wing and went down inside the area. The referee pointed to the spot, with Mark Bower fuming at the decision from the touchline. Danny Elliott saw his shot saved by Atkinson before smashing the rebound into the corner.

In the lead and getting used to the surface, the visitors took the game to the Avenue, but it was the hosts who should’ve equalised.

Jake Hibbs, returning from suspension, won the ball from Askew and fed Knight, who was through on goal. The striker dribbled towards Gray but the in-form number ten dragged his shot wide from 14 yards.

After losing Will Longbottom to injury, Bower’s side conceded their second goal of the evening. 

Atkinson made another fine save, this time denying George Glendon from 12 yards. The ball bounced off his feet into the path of Johnston and the winger lifted the ball over the Avenue goalkeeper and into the far corner from 16 yards.

With words of Bower, Danny Boshell and Ryan Toulson ringing in their ears, the Avenue players started aggressively, pressing further up the pitch and disrupting their opponents pattern of play.

With two attempts from Nicky Clee and Brad Dockerty setting the tempo, but failing to trouble Louis Gray in the Chester FC goal, Bradford halved the deficit. 

Knight’s in-swinging corner was flicked into the path of Havern at the back post, and the defender toe-poked the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

And then, Knight scored a crucial equaliser. The striker used his pace to chase down a pass from Clee into the left wing. With some excellent footwork, the striker put the ball through the legs of a defender, carried on driving into the box, shrugging off a couple of challenges along the way before scrambling the ball home.

After getting level on the scoreboard, Bradford continued to impress and posed an attacking threat, with Clee and substitutes Luke Rawson and Oli Johnson coming close to giving their side the advantage.

With the additional minutes about to announced, the visitors thought they’d won the game with a stunning goal.

Morgan, outside the penalty area, expertly controlled the ball on his chest and then unleashed a sweet right-footed volley into the top corner past Atkinson, who was rooted to the spot.

Following celebrations on the pitch, the away side got back in position for the restart, with only a few minutes left to play.

But the character of this Avenue side never fails to amaze. This team never give up.

Into additional time, the visitors had a numerical advantage in the final third, but a superb block from substitute Adam Nowakowski kept his side in the game.

And then, deservedly, the Avenue snatched a dramatic equaliser.

Clee pushed forward on the left wing and evaded a challenge before drilling a low cross past Gray. Captain Havern was lurking at the far post but Askew put the ball into his own net from close to the delight of the players and management on the Avenue dugout to earn a draw.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Atkinson, Ross, Windass (Nowakowski 83), Booty, Havern (c), Hibbs, Longbottom (Johnson 38), Marriott, Dockerty, Knight (Rawson 63), Clee

Subs not used: Sanyang, Hussain.

Goals: Havern (58), Knight (62), Askew (og 90+2)

Chester FC: Gray, Morgan, Askew, Weeks, Roberts, Grand, Johnston (Waring 69), Glendon, Dudley, Elliott, (Goodwin 85), Bauress (Marsh-Hughes 85)

Subs not used: Clark, Burke

Goals: Elliott (18), Johnston (42)

Yellow cards: Askew, Glendon, Weeks, 

Referee: Ed Duckworth

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

We can confirm that we have signed Luke Rawson from Chesterfield on a 5 week loan deal until the 23rd of February. The tall striker has played 8 times for Chesterfield in the National League this season scoring twice, he also enjoyed a loan at our divisional rivals Alfreton scoring once in 2 appearances. Luke will be available for selection for tonight’s game against Chester and will add some competition for places whilst adding some possible variance to our attacking style with his strength and size. Thank you to Chesterfield for helping make this possible so easily and quickly.

The club would also like to announce the non-contract signing of Liam Bennett. Liam has been training with the club for the last couple of months after returning to the UK from the USA where he studied and played for the Louisville Cardinals after his release from Leeds United, where he played alongside the likes of Lewis Cook and Kalvin Phillips. 

We would like to welcome both players to the club and wish them all the best in their time with us. 

#UTA

Following the recent heavy snow and freezing temperatures in Bradford, today’s Vanarama National League North fixture against Chester FC has been postponed.

The fixture will hopefully take place on Tuesday 19th January, with kick-off at 7.45pm, at the Horsfall Stadium.

We are happy to announce that we have agreed with Brackley and the National League to play our recently postponed game with them to Tuesday the 23rd of February, 7.45pm.

#UTA #longmidweektrip 

We are happy to announce the live streaming details for this Saturday’s National League North fixture vs Chester FC

Follow the link below to access the game, we go live from 14:30 on the day, where you can expect;

• Mike ‘The Game Caller’ Gledhill on fine form
• Interviews
• Highlights

And one or two new features!

All this will cost you just £5.00. If you are a first-time user of the system, you will need to set up a free account.

Season ticket holders will of course get the game free of charge!

Follow the link –  https://streaming.insightfour.com/stream/d0hud2hQ

Regrettably, Saturday’s game against Brackley has had to be postponed. This is due to Brackley having returned positive Covid-19 tests amongst their players and staff.

It goes without saying that everyone here at Bradford (Park Avenue) wish those concerned a speedy recovery

We have moved quickly to replace the fixture, and are delighted to announce that we will now play Chester FC THIS SATURDAY 16^th January (not Tuesday as previously announced) at the Horsfall with a 3pm KO.

Once again, a big thank you to all at Chester and the National League for their help in facilitating the fixture.

Streaming details will be announced in due course

Our re-arranged game with Chester, originally scheduled for the 9th January, will now take place on Tuesday 19^th January with a 19:45 KO.

We would like to thank both Chester FC and the National League for their respective efforts to get the game re-arranged quickly.

We will be live streaming the game again, and you can follow the updates on our social media on the night. The link for the game will be announced on Friday Morning.

We are delighted to let you know that after being stretchered off during the Boston United game on Monday evening, Ryan, who received incredible treatment from Tally, attended hospital where his foot was x-Rayed. It has been confirmed that despite being sore and having minor lacerations Ryan did not have any fractures.  

This is great news as Ryan’s fantastic performances this season have epitomised that of the team and we look forward to seeing him back soon in the green and white!!

#UTA

We are aware of an issue with our website over the last 2 home games against York and Boston, where the site is crashing just before KO with people trying to access the link to our games.

We do try to nullify this by also posting out the link on our social media platforms, although there is an understanding that not everybody uses these sites and as such prefer to use the website.

So as a further measure to try and make sure that you, the Green Army, can access our games, rather than use the website on game day, if you would like us to email you the link direct on the day we generate it we can do that!

Simply email our operations manager on calum.cullen@bpafc.com and use the subject ‘Streaming Link Request’ and we will add you to the list to make sure you don’t miss out! The link for the re-arranged Chester game will be set up this Friday am, so if you want the email, we need it in by close of play on Thursday.

Once again, thank you for your unwavering support!

#UTA