Avenue held their own against two top teams in the division.
Avenue’s goalless draw with Chorley and the narrow defeat to Kings Lynn means they pick up one point from a possible six against two of the league’s promotion chasers.
491 fans witnessed the goalless home draw against play-off chasers Chorley. It took a while for Avenue to get going.
The first half saw Chorley have the better of the chances and most of the game’s possession. But as the first half went on Avenue became stronger and nearly broke the deadlock just past the half hour mark. Maroodza found some space for a shot but it was claimed well by the Chorley keeper.
Chorley came out into the second half with fire in their belly. They created several chances but Avenue absorbed the pressure and waited patiently to try and catch the away side on the break. Towards the end Avenue made some good chances and, had fortune favoured them, they could have nicked all three points.
The Bradford boss Mark Bower wasn’t happy with the performance rating most of his players five or six out of ten, but was happy to take a point as he stated,
“When it’s not going for you and you can’t string anything together its important you keep a clean sheet, but I thought we defended well today and when they had as many chances as they had we earned the right to take a point at the end of the day.”
The following Tuesday saw the Avenue travel to the league leaders Kings Lynn who were unbeaten in their last five games. It was always going to a tall order for the Avenue to come away with anything.
In contrast to the Chorley game, Avenue started the brighter of the two sides and looked well on top throughout the first half, having most of the chances, but the home defence held firm.
Avenue’s pressure was rewarded five minutes into the second half. Great effort from Brad Dockerty, who played it down the left, and through the defences before passing to Longbottom who dispatched the ball into the back of the net to give Bradford a well-deserved lead.
This setback stirred the home side as they drew level after only four minutes.
Undeterred, Avenue kept up the pressure with Longbottom heading over and Dockerty harassing the home side’s keeper and backline when out of possession.
But it would be the home side who would find the winner with 20 minutes to go. A good strike from Christian Oxlade Chamberlain found its way past Sykes – Kenworthy to make sure the points stayed firmly on home soil.
Mark Bower had nothing but praise for his side’s performance,
“I thought we were good today, they didn’t really trouble us, a bit disappointed with the goals we conceded. I’m just disappointed and frustrated that we haven’t taken something from the game because I thought we deserved it.”