The Avenue broke the deadlock with an exquisite Brad Dockerty strike which left Drench rooted to his spot. Then, two goals in two minutes from Lewis Knight and Mark Ross gave the hosts an impressive victory.

The home side started brightly as Knight narrowly missed the target from 12 yards. They were nearly punished as an identical situation happened at the opposite end of the pitch, but Tyler Walton fired his effort against the woodwork.

The visitors settled into the game and had a couple of chances but both Jimmy Spencer and Luke Parkin were denied by the Avenue goalkeeper Dan Atkinson from distance.

Before the break, Bradford finished the stronger team as new loan signing Lewis Bradley, who impressed in the front four, nearly grabbed a debut goal but his right-footed strike, heading for the top corner from 20 yards, was headed off the line by Jordan Richards.

After the restart, the Avenue  started strongly and caused the Celts plenty of problems for the rest of the afternoon.

It wasn’t long until they took the lead as Ross’ cross was cleared into the feet of Dockerty who curled a wonderful shot past former Avenue number one Drench from 25 yards.

With confidence flowing through the veins of Mark Bower’s side, they doubled their advantage when Nicky Clee threaded a lovely ball into the path of Knight, and the young striker slotted home from 12 yards.

Two minutes later, Ross, who was part of a solid back four, came from nowhere to meet a cross from debutant Bradley and the right-back guided the ball clinically past Drench from close range.

The remaining 20 minutes saw plenty of substitutions and the visitors were unfortunate not to get on the scoreboard. Spencer and Charles both saw their attempts fly over the bar as the afternoon belonged to the Avenue who claimed an impressive victory at the Horsfall Stadium.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Atkinson, Ross, Toulson, Hussain (Nowakowski 46, Marriott 55)), Havern, Lund (Trialist 75), Knight (Trialist 75),  Hibbs, Bradley (Johnson 75), Dockerty (Lyons 70), Clee (Windass 65)

Subs not used: Downing, Fawcett

Goals: Dockerty (50), Knight (63), Ross (65).

Farsley Celtic: Drench, Richards, West, Allan, Ellis (Syers 46), Clayton, Walton (B.Atkinson 42), Byrom, Spencer, Parkin (Charles 64) Hayhurst.

Subs not used: Kelly, C.Atkinson, Maltby

A late penalty denied Bradford (Park Avenue) a draw at The Citadel in a behind-closed-doors  pre-season friendly.

It was a familiar face who broke the deadlock as former Avenue favourite Adam Clayton rose above his marker and smartly nodded the ball past Dan Atkinson from close range. 

In the second half, the Avenue looked dangerous on the break and Brad Dockerty made a huge difference after being introduced at half-time. The young winger drew his side level with a deflected effort before a late penalty from Luke Parkin gave the home side the victory.

There wasn’t much between both teams in the first 45 minutes. The home side enjoyed more of the possession, helped by the Avenue giving away cheap ball inside their own half on a few occasions. 

But it was Mark Bower’s side who nearly took the lead as former Avenue goalkeeper Steven Drench was called into action to deny the Trialist from 14 yards.

Following a free-kick conceded by Jake Hibbs which was headed clear by the Bradford defence, the corner from Jake Charles was met by Clayton to give the Celts a narrow lead. 

Before the half-time whistle, the hosts could’ve doubled their advantage but Atkinson produced a superb save, tipping over Jimmy Spencer’s curling effort from 20 yards. 

Shortly after, Atkinson was beaten as Joe West lifted an effort over the goalkeeper from ten yards but the Avenue right-back Mark Ross covered well and cleared the ball off the line.

After the restart, the visitors caused plenty of problems, it was just the final ball that sometimes let the Avenue down. The introduction of Dockerty was a catalyst for the Avenue to catch the home side on the counter attack.

There were shouts of handball against Danny Ellis as substitute Tabish Hussain struck a powerful right-footed effort towards goal but it was blocked. The referee and linesman disagreed with the protests.

It was the Avenue who continued to push forward and deservedly drew level as Dockerty produced some excellent footwork and unleashed a low right-footed effort towards goal, and with the help of a deflection from Adam Nowakowski, it flew past Drench from 20 yards.

With the game heading for a draw, the home side snatched a dramatic winner. Tyler Walton broke through the middle of the park and evaded a few challenges, only for Ross to bring the midfielder down inside the box. From the penalty spot, Parkin sent Atkinson the wrong way to give Farsley Celtic a narrow victory.

Farsley Celtic: Drench, Richards (B.Atkinson 61), West, Allen, Ellis, Clayton, Byrom, C.Atkinson  (Walton 61), Spencer, Charles (Parkin 61), Hayhurst (Syers 61)

Goals: Clayton (28), Parkin (pen 90)

Bradford (Park Avenue): Atkinson, Ross, Downing (Toulson 59), Marriott (Windass 75), Havern, Lund, Knight (Trialist 75), Hibbs (Lyons 75), Trialist (Hussain 59), Clee (Dockerty 45), Nowakowski (Trialist 85).

Goal: Dockerty (83)

Avenues next game was due to be away this Saturday at Spennymoor, but due to increased lock down measures in the North East and to protect staff and players it has been agreed to call the match off. We are presently trying to arrange an alternative last pre-season fixture before the FA Cup tie on the 3rd of October.

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