Bradford (Park Avenue) missed an opportunity to move into the play-off spots on Saturday, suffering a 2-1 defeat away to Carlton Town. The match, one of only three played in the league amidst the challenging weather brought by Storm Darragh, saw Avenue struggle to capitalize on key chances and remain eighth in the Northern Premier League East Division, three points off the play-off places.

The first half was largely dictated by the horrendous conditions in Nottinghamshire. Carlton looked the more dangerous, with Alex Howes narrowly missing the target and Niall Davie forcing Avenue goalkeeper Jack Hall to tip over a wind-assisted corner that almost flew straight in. Hall also denied Charlie Carter’s overlapping effort, keeping Avenue in the game.

Bradford came closest to breaking the deadlock when Iyrwah Gooden’s pinpoint free kick found Mark Beevers, whose powerful header rattled the crossbar. It was a missed opportunity that would prove costly as Carlton came out firing in the second half.

Within a minute of the restart, Alex Howes put the hosts ahead with a stunning strike from the edge of the box, following Avenue’s failure to clear their lines. Hall produced more heroics to deny Carter twice in one-on-one situations, but Oliver Clark doubled Carlton’s lead in the 65th minute. A half-cleared free kick fell to Clark, who chested the ball down and volleyed home a sublime finish.

Carlton nearly extended their lead further, with Nathan Watson narrowly missing the target. Bradford eventually found a lifeline in the 88th minute when a wind-assisted free kick caused chaos in the Carlton box, allowing Ben Blythe to bundle the ball home. Despite a frantic final push and extended stoppage time, Avenue couldn’t find the equalizer, falling to just their second defeat in 13 games.

Next Match

Bradford (Park Avenue) will look to get back on track on Friday when they host Bridlington Town at Horsfall Community Stadium. The struggling Yorkshire rivals will present an opportunity for Avenue to close the gap on the play-off places.

Teams

Carlton Town

1. Felix Annan
2. Lawrence Stewart Gorman
3. Niall Davie (C)
4. Daniel Brown
5. Dean Freeman
6. Oliver Clark
7. Charlie Carter
8. Khyle Sargent
9. Nathan Watson
10. Alex Howes
11. Niall Hylton
    Substitutes:
12. Michael Ford
13. Lewis Durow
14. Harry Goddard
15. Liam Moran

Bradford (Park Avenue)

1. Jack Hall
2. Josh Ashman
3. Dan Francis
4. Luke Hogg (C)
5. Ben Blythe
6. Mark Beevers
7. Brad Williams
8. Ted Lavelle
9. Jack Goodman
10. Connor Shanks
11. Iyrwah Gooden
    Substitutes:
12. Paddy Sykes
13. Jack Normanton
14. Ewan Gregson
15. Sonny Whittingham
16. Connor Dimaio

Date: Saturday, December 2, 2024
Venue: Horsfall Community Stadium

Bradford (Park Avenue) returned to winning ways in style with a commanding 4-1 victory over Sherwood Colliery at the Horsfall Community Stadium. Goals from Jack Goodman, Ted Lavelle, Iyrwah Gooden, and Brad Williams sealed the win, ending a three-match run without a victory and moving Avenue closer to the playoff spots with a game in hand.

Avenue began with purpose and had strong appeals for a penalty within the first 10 minutes when Connor Shanks’ cross appeared to strike a Sherwood defender’s hand, but the referee waved play on.

Just minutes later, Jack Goodman broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, racing onto a ball played in behind the defence. With composure, he outpaced the covering defender and slotted home from close range.

Avenue doubled their advantage in the 21st minute when the ball fell kindly to Ted Lavelle on the edge of the box. With time to pick his spot, he unleashed a powerful strike that left the Sherwood goalkeeper, Jordan Pierrepont, with no chance.

Avenue had the chance to extend their lead further before halftime when Goodman won a penalty, but the forward struck his effort wide. Moments later, Connor Dimaio unleashed a long-range strike that forced a superb save from Pierrepont, keeping Sherwood just about in the game at 2-0 heading into the break.

The second half began much as the first ended, with Avenue on the front foot. Shanks came close to adding a third, delivering a low cross that somehow evaded everyone in the box.

Sherwood threatened briefly through Harry Birchumshaw, whose curling effort was well saved by Jack Hall. However, Avenue reasserted their dominance on the hour mark as Iyrwah Gooden bundled the ball home from close range to make it 3-0.

Sherwood pulled one back shortly after when goalkeeper Hall conceded a penalty for a foul in the box. Mason Lee stepped up and confidently converted to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

Any hopes of a comeback were dashed in the 85th minute when Sherwood’s Robson Doolan was sent off for a second yellow card after a poor challenge on the edge of the box. Avenue capitalized immediately, with substitute Brad Williams receiving the ball on the right and firing a brilliant shot into the far corner to round off the scoring at 4-1.

The victory was a much-needed boost for Craig Elliott’s men, who head into next weekend’s clash with Carlton United full of confidence as they aim to break into the playoff positions.

Key Moments:

• 16′ Jack Goodman opened the scoring with a composed finish.
• 21′ Ted Lavelle doubled Avenue’s lead with a powerful strike.
• 31′ Goodman missed a penalty to keep the score at 2-0.
• 60′ Iyrwah Gooden made it 3-0 with a close-range effort.
• 68′ Mason Lee scored for Sherwood from the penalty spot.
• 85′ Robson Doolan was sent off for a second yellow card.
• 86′ Brad Williams sealed the win with a brilliant finish.

Lineups:

Bradford (Park Avenue):
Hall, Hassan-Smith, Francis, Dimaio (Hogg 86’), Blythe, Beevers, La Bastide (Williams 31’), Lavelle, Goodman (Normanton 88’), Shanks (Whittingham 87’), Gooden (Sykes 79’).

Sherwood Colliery:
Pierrepont, Widdowson (Jebbison 70’), Lobley, Goundry (Conroy 72’), Gascoigne (Grant 69’), Robson, York (Monington 72’), Doolan, Duhameau (Pacheco 73’), Birchumshaw, Lee.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will travel to Carlton United next Saturday, aiming to continue their push towards the playoff places.

Welcome to today’s edition of AVENUE, the must-have matchday read, available for just £3 in the Clubhouse! We’ve lined up an exciting array of content to keep you informed, entertained, and inspired as we host Sherwood Colliery at Horsfall Community Stadium. Here’s what’s in store:

From the Boardroom

Director Paul Armitage shares his thoughts on the season so far, discussing league performance, recent player movements, and key updates ahead of the Fans Forum on 13th December. He also dives into the club’s Half-Season Ticket offering and provides a transparent look into the finances driving Bradford (Park Avenue) forward.

Club Secretary’s Insights

Sheridann Dickerson gives you an exclusive glimpse behind the scenes, covering player contracts, the departure of some familiar faces, and exciting new recruits. This is your chance to stay in the loop with all the squad’s latest developments.

Opposition Insider

Take a trip down memory lane and learn about today’s visitors, Sherwood Colliery, with a fascinating history feature that dives into the roots and rise of todays opposition.

BPA Juniors in the Community

Gary Ratnik highlights the incredible work being done around Bradford schools, showcasing how the club continues to inspire and engage the next generation of players through our community programmes.

BPA Performance Centre

Discover more about our innovative Monday night sessions, tailored for grassroots players and beyond. Whether you’re a budding talent or a seasoned player, these sessions offer a fantastic opportunity to hone your skills.

Development Fund Notes

With words from Dave Stordy and Keith Bonney, get updates on fundraising efforts, our Fantasy Premier League, and how your contributions are helping to shape the future of BPAFC.

Historical Perspective

Club historian John Rhodes takes us back to December 2018 for a nostalgic look at a pivotal moment in Avenue’s history.

More Inside

From player features to exclusive club news, this edition of AVENUE is bursting with content you won’t want to miss.

Make sure to grab your copy from the Clubhouse for just £3 and immerse yourself in everything Bradford (Park Avenue). Let’s get behind the Green Army and cheer the team on to victory!

Join us at Horsfall Community Stadium today as Bradford (Park Avenue) take on Sherwood Colliery in a thrilling clash!

🆚 Opponent: Sherwood Colliery
🕒 Kick-off: 3:00 PM
🏟️ Venue: Horsfall Community Stadium

🎟️ Purchase Discounted Tickets online until 12pm – https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=8649

Paying on the gate?

• £13 Adults
• £10 Concessions
• £5 Students, Blue Light & Armed Forces
• £3 Youth (12-17)
• £1 Juniors (U12s)

Bring your Green Army spirit and let’s cheer the boys to victory! 💚⚽

#BPAFC #GreenArmy #Matchday #WeAreAvenue

4o

Don’t miss out on the action at Horsfall Community Stadium! Secure your tickets now for our next 3 home games at a discounted price:

🟢 Saturday, 30th November
🆚 Sherwood Colliery
⏰ 3:00 PM KO

🟢 Friday, 13th December
🆚 Bridlington Town
⏰ 7:45 PM KO

🟢 Boxing Day – Thursday, 26th December
🆚 Pontefract Collieries
⏰ 3:00 PM KO

🎟️ Where to purchase:
✅ Online: Click here to book https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures/Index?fanStoreType=Fixtures&clubId=361

Why not save even more, and commit to a Half Season Ticket! Available here or in the Horton Park Suite – https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/SeasonTickets/SelectType?clubId=361

Let’s fill the stands and cheer on the Green Army! 💚⚽

#BPAFC #GreenArmy #WeAreAvenue

Bradford (Park Avenue) are delighted to announce a Black Friday special offer for our upcoming home match against Sherwood Colliery, taking place this Saturday at the Horsfall Community Stadium.

As part of this fantastic deal, we’re offering discounted tickets for the big game!

🎟️ Discounted Ticket Prices (Available online til Friday 29th, or at Horsfall until Thursday 28th):

• Adults: £10
• Concessions: £8
• Students, Blue Light, Armed Forces: £5 (ID Required)
• Youths (12-17): £3
• Juniors: £1

🍽️ Discounted Hospitality Tickets:

• Table of 8: £10 per person
• Single Tickets:
  • Adults: £20
  • Concessions: £18
  • Students, Blue Light, Armed Forces: £15 (ID Required)
  • Youths: £12
  • Juniors: £11

📍 How to Purchase:

• In-Person Sales: Tickets will be available at the Horsfall Community Stadium from 1 PM to 9 PM until Thursday.
• Phone Sales: Email us on Thomas.Ogden@bpafc.com with your phone number if you would like to purchase over the phone.
• Online Sales: Digital tickets are available until Friday via Fanbase. https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=8649

Please note, regular admission prices will apply if paying on the gate.

🏟️ Match Information:

• Fixture: Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Sherwood Colliery
• Date: Saturday 30th November
• Venue: Horsfall Community Stadium BD6 2NG

Don’t miss out on this incredible Black Friday deal – secure your spot today and join us for an exciting day of football!

For more information, contact us at thomas.ogden@bpafc.com.

Bradford (Park Avenue) are thrilled to announce the signing of dynamic winger and centre-forward, Iyrwah Gooden, from Bury FC for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old brings a wealth of experience and attacking quality to Horsfall Community Stadium, having previously played for clubs such as Warrington Town, Chester, Clitheroe, Workington, Worksop, Emley, and Bury.

Gooden had a standout campaign last season at Emley AFC, where he played a crucial role in their promotion as champions from the NCEL, scoring an impressive 23 goals. This season, he has continued his fine form at Bury, featuring in 25 matches , scoring 7 goals, and providing 4 assists.

The club would like to extend a huge thank you to the Development Fund for their invaluable support in securing this signing. Their continued backing has been instrumental in bringing Iyrwah to the club and strengthening our squad as we push for promotion this season.

First Team Manager Craig Elliott shared his thoughts on the signing:
“Since coming into BPA, I have been actively looking for wingers that suit my system and the way I like to play. Iyrwah is a player that ticked all my boxes for the criteria of player I wanted in my team.

“I have been trying for a while to bring him in for a few reasons, I feel he is the right age to improve, is Yorkshire-based, and fits in with our budget at BPA. So I am delighted and thankful to the Club and Development Fund for supporting this transfer.

“He’s an exciting winger that can score and create goals. This is the type of player I want to bring in for the next phase of improving the team.”

Gooden is available for selection immediately, and fans can look forward to seeing him in action this weekend. Stay tuned to our socials for updates as we visit Cleethorpes Town on Saturday for a 3pm KO.

Join us in giving Iyrwah a warm Green Army welcome! Let’s show our support as he begins his Avenue journey.