Home form could be key against promotion hopefuls.
Bradford (Park Avenue) will welcome promotion-chasing Chorley to the Horsfall Community Stadium this Saturday following back-to-back away games in the Vanarama National League North.
The Avenue will be entertaining the Lancashire-based side buoyed by a hard-earned point away to Kidderminster Harriers last time out.
The fixture was one of only a handful of National League North games to get the go ahead during Saturday’s cold snap, and despite the heavy fog, the Green Army gave an impressive account of themselves against professional opposition to bring a point back to West Yorkshire, denied all three only by a wonder goal from the hosts.
Bradford (Park Avenue) will be hoping to make home advantage count against Chorley. Despite losing their first four games at the Horsfall this season, the Avenue have settled well and are currently unbeaten in four on home turf.
A win this Saturday would be the first in six games, and could see Bradford climb a place to 16th. More importantly, with only three points separating the club from the relegation zone, a win would be essential in taking another step closer to safety as the season enters its final months.
Like Avenue, Chorley also made a slow start to the season with just two wins from their opening eight games, but have since recovered and now find themselves on the brink of the league’s promotion places. However, one win in four appears to have halted the Magpie’s progress. Fortunately for Chorley, the teams sitting above them have also struggled for consistency since the turn of the year, meaning the promotion places are still in reach for this weekend’s visitors.
Chorley manager Andy Preece will be counting on attacker Connor Hall to continue his fine goal scoring form away at Bradford (Park Avenue) this Saturday. The former Sheffield United youth forward has netted 14 goals in 26 appearances this season, averaging 0.57 goals per game. The Avenue defence will need to keep a watchful eye on the Magpies talisman who has scored five times in his last six games in all competitions.
The reverse fixture back in August saw Bradford (Park Avenue) secure a valuable point at Victory Park by holding their hosts to a goalless draw, a result made even more impressive considering the Green Army had to play the entirety of the second half with ten men. Incidentally this was the same score line as when the Avenue hosted the Magpies last season.
There has been little to separate both of these sides in recent contests, with the last four meetings all resulting in draws. Still, Bradford (Park Avenue) should take inspiration from Chorley’s wretched record at the Horsfall, with the Magpies managing just one win in their last eight visits. This weekend’s opposition have failed to score in each of their last four trips to Bradford, a record that the Green Army will be hoping to maintain beyond this season.
Match Preview by Stephen Grimshaw (@sgsportswriter on Twitter)
Where To Find Us:
Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC, Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 2NG
Directions By Car:
Leave the M62 at junction 26 and follow signs for the M606. Continue on the M606 to junction 3 and take the A6117 exit to Ring Road West. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Rooley Lane / A6036 signposted Halifax. Pass the Odsal Stadium on the left hand side and at the next roundabout take the 3rd exit on to Halifax Road / A6036 signposted Halifax. After approximately one mile turn left down Cemetery Road immediately before the Kids Planet Children’s Nursery, and the ground is 150 yards on the left. We have a car park which will be signposted off Cemetery Road and parking charges may apply.
Directions By Train:
Bradford Interchange rail station is the nearest to the ground and trains operate on the Calder Valley Line timetable from Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Manchester, Preston and York.
From there you can catch the bus directly to the ground (details below):
Bradford Forster Square rail station There are regular services from Leeds (Leeds-Bradford Line timetable), Skipton (Airedale Line timetable) and Ilkley (Wharfedale Line timetable).
From Forster Square it is a 10 minute walk to Bradford Interchange bus station for a bus onwards to the stadium.
Directions By Bus:
From Bradford Interchange bus station bus services 681 and 682 and Halifax Bus Station bus services 508, 681 and 682.
These services stop at the Halifax Road Cemetery Road stop near to the stadium.
Turnstiles: PAY ON GATE
The turnstiles open around an hour and a half before kick off and are located at either end of the ground on Cemetery Road and Park Road. Matchday prices for league games are as follows:
Adult – £14
Concession – £10
Student – £5
Youth (12-17) – £3
Junior (under 12, must be accompanied by an adult) – £1