Bradford (Park Avenue) made it a trio of wins in as many pre-season games, as they put five past Thackley AFC at the Meridian Stadium at Dennyfield.
Summer signing Scott Duxbury thought he had given Avenue the lead after 15 minutes, calmly slotting home after being played through by Robbie Fox, only for the assistant referee’s offside flag to cut the celebrations short.
After spending the early stages of the game adjusting to the dry surface, Avenue eventually took the lead in the 27th minute. Adam Haw’s expertly struck free-kick sailed over the wall before dipping beyond the reach of the Thackley goalkeeper Liam Wilson.
Haw doubled Avenue’s lead, just ten minutes later. Excellent footwork from Louie Chorlton down the right side tempted a Thackley defender into a rash challenge inside the penalty area, leaving the referee with little hesitation in pointing to the spot. Haw made no mistake from 12 yards, coolly sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with a composed finish into the bottom-left corner.
The hosts did manage to halve the deficit in the 64th minute. A looping ball forward was underestimated by Avenue goalkeeper Lambton, who rushed off his line but misjudged the bounce, leaving Thackley forward Josh Owen with the simplest of tap-ins into an unguarded net.
The goal appeared to spark Avenue back into life. Substitute Marcus Carver was rewarded for some excellent pressing as he closed down the Thackley goalkeeper, forcing an error with his clearance. The ball ricocheted kindly into the path of the on-rushing Jake Thompson, who calmly stroked it into the bottom corner.
The game was put beyond any doubt in the 80th minute when Connor Shanks rifled a superb finish into the top corner from the edge of the area, after latching onto Hassan-Smith’s cross from the right.
The last action of the game saw Avenue add a fifth. Luke Parkin’s free-kick from the left was met by Duxbury, whose header nestled kindly into the bottom corner.
Bradford (Park Avenue) now turn their attention to their next pre-season outing as they return to the Horsfall Community Stadium to host a Bradford City XI for the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy on Tuesday 28th July. The Green Army will be hoping to build on yet another encouraging attacking display and continue their preparations ahead of the new campaign.
Bradford (Park Avenue): Lambton (Jones 75), Brown , Winfield, Moke (Ekpolo 46′), Duxbury, Misambo, Chorlton (Hassan-Smith 46′), Abbott (Shanks 46′), Andreucci (Parkin 46′), Haw (Thompson 60′), Fox (Carver 65′).
Goalscorers: Haw (27′), (37); Thompson (70′), Shanks (80′), Duxbury (90′).