A second-half Louie Chorlton strike secured Bradford (Park Avenue) victory against Bradford City XI in the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy.
On a beautiful sunny evening in Bradford, 954 supporters turned up to the Horsfall Community Stadium to watch both Bradford clubs go head-to-head ahead of their respective seasons.
The City youngsters started brightly, looking to catch out an experienced Avenue side, especially through the talented Gabe Holt, who caused plenty of problems for the Bradford defence. The number ten found striker Jenson Gaitley, who managed to control the ball on the edge of the box, but was unable to connect properly and his tame effort was easily gathered by Dec Lambton.
Ryan Toulson was in charge for the evening, and his instructions from the dugout saw BPA find a rhythm and they started to build some momentum against their opposition. Prince Ekpolo started to control play in the middle of the park and linked up nicely with Ben Andreucci, only for the striker to fire a low right-footed from distance, which was saved low by City goalkeeper Zac Hadi.
Five minutes later, Bradford won a corner and a deep set-piece delivery from Charlie Winfield found centre-back Rudy Misambo at the far post, but the defender’s header hit the side-netting from 12 yards.
Once again, Ekpolo and Andreucci connected well as the midfielder threaded a lovely through-ball to the young striker. The lively forward took one touch before thrashing a right-footed strike towards the near post from 16 yards, but Hadi used his big frame to tip it wide.
Andreucci continued to be a nuisance for City and his willingness to press from the front, nearly embarrassed Hadi. The goalkeeper dwelled on the ball too long, inside his six yard box and his clearance cannoned off the striker, only for the ball to fly over the bar.
Both teams pushed forward to break the deadlock, and City came close, five minutes before the break. Holt was the architect, with a wonderful back-heel into the path of Gaitley, who found himself 1v1 against Lambton. The striker had a heavy touch, approaching the penalty area, allowing the Avenue number one to dive at his feet and deny an opportunity at goal.
The hosts responded with the impressive Kareem Hassan-Smith driving down the right wing to deliver a low cross into the danger zone. It was that man again, Andreucci, who was equal to the pass and flicked the ball towards the bottom corner, but Hadi made an excellent low save from close range.
After the break, there was a flurry of substitutions for both teams, and it was the depth for Avenue that swung the game in their favour.
From kick-off, City’s substitute goalkeeper Harry Barrow scuffed his clearance and Ekpolo was alert to intercept and hit a right-footed shot which stung the palms of the Bantams’ number 13 from 14 yards.
As the second half progressed, Bradford grew into the game and stretched the game on both wings, with Chorlton and Robbie Fox running at the full backs and causing problems for the young City defence.
After seeing a long range effort from Luke Parkin skim the post from 20 yards, a header from Scott Duxbury hit the side-netting and City striker Josh Vipond rattling the crossbar with a header from a corner, the home side took the lead.
Parkin found space on the left wing and cut onto his right foot to deliver a teasing right-footed cross into the area. Fox managed to get above his marker and flick the ball into the path of Chorlton, who dispossessed the City centre-back before taking a touch and firing the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
The Avenue nearly doubled their advantage with a quick counter-attack. Substitute Connor Shanks added energy in the middle of the park, with Adriano Moke sitting in his traditional CDM role, and Shanks intercepted a low corner, before driving forward and playing in a lovely pass into the path of Chorlton, who was lightning quick to outpace the left-back, but he dragged his shot just wide from 14 yards.
The experience of the Bradford side saw out the game and were victorious in an entertaining and hard-fought contest against their local neighbours, to win the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy.
Bradford (Park Avenue): Lambton, Hassan-Smith (Brown 67′), Winfield (57′), Ekpolo (Moke 60′), Ible, Misambo, Thompson (Chorlton 57′), Abbott (Shanks 60′), Andreucci, Haw (Fox 60′), Parkin.
Goalscorer: Chorlton 70′
Sub not used: Jones
Photos by: John Rhodes