Avenue hope to kick-start survival against the Pilgrims.
Bradford (Park Avenue) will aim to get their survival bid back on track as they travel to Lincolnshire on Saturday to take on fellow strugglers Boston United at The Jakemans Community Stadium.
The game follows back-to-back postponements for the Avenue who twice saw their home fixture with Alfreton Town called off within the previous week. The game’s original date was moved due to last week’s cold weather, only for Monday’s rearrangement to be called off late in the day due to travel issues for the visitors. The Green Army will hope the extended rest period will work in their favour as they look to pick up a first away win since December.
Having picked up just one point from their previous six games, Bradford (Park Avenue) have slumped to 23rd in the Vanarama National League North, now eight points adrift of safety. With only nine matches left to play this season, it is vital the Avenue rediscover some of the form displayed in the latter months of 2022 if they are to pull off a great escape. Nonetheless, manager Mark Bower remains hopeful of his side’s chances, telling local news outlet the T&A last week that: “we’ve gone on good runs from nowhere before, and you’ve seen Blyth and Leamington do that in recent weeks, so we’ve got to keep the faith. It’s only March, so there’s still time”.
This weekend’s hosts currently sit 18th and three points clear of the relegation places following a recent revival in their league form. The Pilgrims have lost just one of their previous seven games, a run not too dissimilar to what Bradford (Park Avenue) might need to replicate in order to stay up this season. The Avenue defence will also be mindful of Boston centre-forward Billy Chadwick who has impressed since joining the club on loan from Hull City. Chadwick has scored four goals in his last five games for the Pilgrims, a run of form that has coincided with the extension of his short-term loan deal until the end of the season.
Bradford (Park Avenue) will hope to take inspiration from the reverse fixture with Boston United back in late-November, a 2-1 victory at the Horsfall Community Stadium courtesy of second half goals from Simon Richman and Jacob Blyth. The result holds particular significance in Avenue’s season as it sparked a three-game winning streak and a six-match unbeaten run. The Green Army will hope this is a good omen as Saturday’s encounter approaches.
Without a win on their last three visits to Boston, Bradford (Park Avenue) will feel they are due a victory this weekend at The Jakemans Community Stadium. Their last triumph away to the Pilgrims came in April 2018 with a double from Adam Boyes overturning an early deficit to secure a 2-1 win for the Avenue.
Match Preview by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter)
Kick off: Saturday 18 March 2023, 15:00.
Getting there:
The Jakemans Community Stadium, Pilgrim Way, Wyberton, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 7NE
Matchday car parking and travel (taken from the Boston United club website):
Matchday car parking at the Jakemans Community Stadium is exclusively for car park season pass holders and club guests in season 2022-2023.Further car parking spaces will become available following the completion of construction works at the Community Stadium in the future.
Any disabled supporters intending to attend any of our upcoming fixtures are advised to contact the ticket office on (01205) 364406 to discuss their in-ground and parking requirements.
There are still various ways to reach the club’s new stadium…
SHUTTLE BUSES
Transport will be running from the town centre on matchdays. The cost is £1.50 each way, with Cropley Coaches picking up outside the Len Medlock Voluntary Centre on St George’s Road (PE21 8YB) at the following times on Saturdays (3pm kick off):
12.00pm
12.45pm
1.30pm
2.15pm
Each bus will also subsequently pick up outside Boots in the Market Place and outside the Quayside Hotel on London Road.
Coaches will return to the Len Medlock Voluntary Centre (on Saturdays) at:
5.00pm
5.45pm
All timings are approximate and will depend on traffic conditions on the route.
As all the parking spaces are not yet available at the new Jakemans Community Stadium due to ongoing construction works, we would ask as many people as possible to use this service, or consider one of the alternative means of accessing the stadium…
ON FOOT
There are a network of footpaths from the town to the stadium, although those using the footpath will have to cross the A16 via the crossing points.
CYCLE
Cycle racks are available either end of the Acorn Taxis (West) Stand, with all cycles left at the owner’s risk.
TAXI
Club partners Acorn Taxis are offering deals for supporters travelling to and from the Jakemans Community Stadium.
Departing from their office in the bus station, the cost for journeys to and from the stadium would be £6 (each way) per car and £10 (each way) per minibus.
You can book an Acorn Taxi by calling (01205) 358358. Please book well in advance.
BUS SERVICES
Brylaine bus services B13 and K58 serve The Quadrant. Further details can be found on the Brylaine website (here) – please note: “The Quadrant” is not listed on the two Brylaine schedules, but we are informed that they drop off and pick up on Wallace Way (on The Quadrant).
Stagecoach, meanwhile, operate bus 57 between Boston and Spalding. It stops in The Quadrant, near to Starbucks, and services people travelling between Boston and Spalding bus stations. For full details, click here.
CAR SHARING
We would ask as many people as possible to consider car sharing to not only help with parking at the stadium, but also to help reduce the travel carbon footprint. For car sharing, however, we would also recommend that face coverings are worn – and the vehicle is well ventilated.
PARKING ARRANGEMENTS
Car parking will exclusively be for sponsors, club guests and car park season pass holders during the 2022-2023 season.
If parking near the stadium, please consider those living in the area.
TICKETS:
EAST STAND (TERRACING) – AWAY SUPPORTERS
Turnstile E2
Adult: £14
Concession: £11
U16: £5
1+1 Family: £17
1+2 Family: £21
2+2 Family: £34
To purchase tickets online, click here.