Bradford (Park Avenue) battled it out with Blyth Spartans on Saturday afternoon at Croft Park, producing an exciting FA Cup showdown that ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw. The result has set the stage for an eagerly anticipated second qualifying round replay at the Horsfall Stadium on Monday evening.
Kick Off is at 7:45pm, and gates open at 6:30pm. Adults will pay just £13 entry, Concessions are in at £10, Students with a valid ID pay just £5, Youth (12-17) is just £3, and u12s go completely free!
MATCH REPORT –
The match kicked off with both teams showing their intent to get on the front foot. Blyth Spartans, led by Graham Fenton, initiated the action, with Will McGowan’s involvement instrumental in crafting two early attacks. However, these promising openings failed to materialise into a real threat on George Sykes-Kenworthy’s goal.
Bradford (Park Avenue) faced an early setback when Jak Whiting had to be substituted due to injury in the 13th minute, with Lewis Hey stepping in.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 22nd minute when persistent work from Elliot Forbes on the right flank allowed him to deliver an enticing cross into the penalty area. The ensuing scramble saw Jack Bodenham unleash a venomous left-footed strike into the bottom left corner, leaving Sykes-Kenworthy with no chance.
As the first half progressed, JJ Hooper had a fantastic opportunity to double the lead but narrowly missed the target with a header from a Michael Liddle cross. Moments later, Alex Mitchell was forced into a terrific point-blank save by Will Longbottom.
Avenue continued to grow into the game, with Jordan Preston narrowly missing the target after a set-piece situation and Cedric Main steering a strike wide of the far corner. However, Spartans held their 1-0 lead going into halftime.
The second half kicked off with a flowing move in the early minutes, but Main failed to connect cleanly with his shot. Bradford’s Brad Dockerty then came close to equalising, hitting the side netting from an acute angle in the penalty area.
Cedric Main had several attempts for Blyth Spartans but couldn’t find the target, including a lofted effort and a powerful strike over the crossbar. As the match progressed, momentum shifted in favour of Bradford (Park Avenue).
Alex Mitchell made a sharp low save to deny Preston before having to be alert again to keep out the Park Avenue number 10. Preston continued to threaten and, on the 74th minute, glanced a header off the post from close range after connecting with Harry Colville’s cross.
In the 82nd minute, Bradford (Park Avenue) found their equaliser in an unconventional manner. Harry Colville’s first-time cross-cum-shot from 35 yards on the right-hand side looped over Alex Mitchell to level the scoreline.
As the match concluded, both Main and substitute Harry Arnison had golden opportunities to test Sykes-Kenworthy, but they couldn’t find the target.
The encounter finished level, setting the stage for a replay on Monday evening at the Horsfall Stadium.
Our latest Inside Training premieres at 10am today! Head over to our YouTube channel now and get subscribed with notifications on to stay up to date with the latest Park Avenue content!
From the North From the A189 (Spine Road) take the A193 (Cowpen Road) exit and follow this into Blyth, continue on the A193 as it becomes The Broadway. Continue on the A193 at The Broadway Circle roundabout and take the next left on to Plessey Road. The ground will be on your left.
From the South Exit the A19 onto the A189 (Spine Road) at the Annitsford Roundabout. After two miles exit onto the A1061 (signed A192 Seaton Delaval, Cramlington and Blyth Beach. Follow the A1061 for approximately three miles and exit left onto the A193. Turn right at the second roundabout onto Plessey Road as above.
Parking is freely available on the surrounding streets but please park sensibly and respect the local residents.
Postcode for SatNav: NE24 3JE
HOW ARE WE?
Mark Bower’s Squad have had a decent start to the Northern Premier League season, pulling off wins against Morpeth Town and Ilkeston Town at home, and sharing points with Guiseley and Bamber Bridge to gain 8 points from 7 games, and up until last Saturday (9th Sept) the team were on a 5 match unbeaten run after also beating Consett in the 1RQ of the FA Cup. As of 12/09, Avenue sit 16th in the League.
“We weren’t quite at it, we were loose in possession and gave the ball away while under no pressure. We were just that half-a-yard off it today.”
Talking on the FA Cup draw, Mark said;
“Well, they’re the the highest position team we could have possibly drawn at this stage, but we’ve been up there and had some good results over the last couple of years. We will have to have to be better than today (FC United (A), certainly when in possession, as Blyth play some good stuff and will pull us apart if we are wasteful.”
Graham Fenton’s Blyth Spartans have had an excellent start to their National League North season, gaining 15 points from their opening 9 games, winning 5 and losing 4. The Spartans currently sit inside the playoffs at 6th.
Just last Tuesday, The Spartans recorded their biggest win of the season against our neighbours Farsley Celtic, playing out a 4-0 thrashing of the Celts at Croft Park.
Blyth come into the game following a 2-1 defeat away at Chester. Following the defeat, Graham Fenton spoke on the FA Cup Draw, saying
“We have to get ourselves where we’re 10-15% better than we were today. We know what Bradford are like, they always pose questions and make it difficult, but we’re looking forward to being back and at home.”
Avenue and Blyth Spartans have previously met on 20 occasions.
Seventeen of these have been in league football and three in cup competitions. The odd number of league meetings was caused when the 2019-20 season was curtailed because of the Covid epidemic and the return fixture at Blyth was not played.
Avenue’s record against the Spartans is quite good with nine wins, five draws and six defeats. The three previous cup meetings were in the Northern Premier League Cup between 1998 and 2002, with Spartans winning both ties played at Croft Park by 3-1 and 4-0, however in Jan 2002 Avenue gained some revenge when Andy Hayward scored four times in a 7-1 victory at Horsfall Stadium in the quarter-finals.
Avenue have won on four occasions in the league at Croft Park. In fact Mark Bower’s men have won the last three meetings in the north-east by 2-1, 3-1 and 1-0, all matches being played on a Tuesday evening.
When the teams meet in the FA Cup it will not be under the Croft Park floodlights. Hopefully this will not have an undue effect on the Avenue team!
We can today confirm the signing of ex-Guiseley midfielder Lewis Hey on dual registration terms with Silsden AFC.
Hey, 19, proved himself a prodigious talent coming through the ranks of the Lion’s Academy set up, but the last few years have proved frustrating, with Covid disrupting the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons and injury hitting his attempts to grab a regular spot in the first team in 2021-22.
Lewis made his debut for the Club in the 2020/21 Season before featuring several times over the following campaign, and also started in their FA Cup trip to AFC Wimbledon last season.
Hey made 26 appearances for Guiseley while in the National League North, 5 in the 2020-21 Campaign, followed by 21 in the 2021-22 Season, Lewis also scored two goals in that season, the winner in a 1-0 victory while away at Chester, and one against Darlington in a 5-1 away defeat.
Lewis is available for selection in tomorrow’s away game vs FC United of Manchester! Stay tuned to our socials for the latest team news!
You can watch Lewis’ goals on our YouTube channel below. Footage taken from Guiseley & Darlington YouTube channels.
Any person applying for a concession may be asked to produce identification at the turnstile. If a supporter is unwaged and does not have proof of any of the above, they must contact the office prior to a game.
Disabled supporters pay either the concession or under 18s price and any carer receives free admission.
There is no segregation in place for this fixture.
Turnstiles will be open from 1:00pm – cash and card payments are accepted.
Our turnstiles are operated by volunteers; we would appreciate supporters arriving at the ground in time for kick-off so that the volunteers can finish as early as possible.
Early entry is via reception from 12.30pm until 1:00pm.
From 1:00pm access through reception will be for officials/players/sponsors/match day diners and those needing lift access only.
Food & drink
The main bar is open from 1.00pm and will close after half time as there is a pre-booked function in the evening.
For this match the SMRE bar is open from 1.00pm and will stay open until last orders at 6:30pm.
For the 2023/24 season the Kazbar has been fitted out with a new bar, and will be serving a selection of lager, IPA and cider. Please note this bar will only take card payments.
If you would like a group dining experience with a fantastic view of the pitch on a match day, then our match day dining tickets are for you. Priced at £40, with juniors half price. The experience includes the following:
Ticket for the game
Delicious two-course meal served before kick off
Pre-match brief from the Manager
Match day programme & team sheet
Half time refreshment
Private bar
Car park space (if you are attending with friends, the deal includes one space per four guests).
Broadhurst Park is the UK’s first new ground to be built and funded by a supporter-owned football club.
Covered on all sides, with standing and seating in the main stand and with a large and expansive home standing area behind the goal, FC United’s purpose-built 4,400 capacity homeshows what can be achieved when football fans with a vision work together and make things happen.
FC United’s members were involved at every stage during the design and construction process and the result is a stadium and community facility that is the envy of many clubs in higher leagues.
FC United is looking to create the first pollinator-friendly football stadium in the UK after supporters won a £4,000 Grow Wild community project award to develop a landscaping project at the ground.
As a community facility, Broadhurst Park will be used every day by local people and will host a range of sporting and recreational activities. A well-appointed function room and meeting spaces are also available for the local community, businesses and other organisations to hire.
Funding for the £6.3m facility has come from a variety of sources. FC United fans have raised £2 million from a pioneering Community Share Scheme and close to a further £1 million from other fundraising. Grant funding has also been provided from Sport England (Iconic Facilities Fund), the Football Foundation (FSIF), Football Foundation (Community Facilities Fund), Manchester City Council, Social Investment Business (My Community Rights), Manchester College and Viridor.
We would like to wish all supporters a very warm welcome to Broadhurst Park.
Miners Community Arts & Music Centre, 63 Teddington Rd, Moston, Manchester M40 0DJ
Located a stone’s throw from Broadhurst Park ‘The Miners’ is an award-winning multi-arts venue hosting music, art & film events. Featuring a café, bar and pool tables the venue is open before FC United home games.
Gardeners Arms Hotel, Moston Lane, M40 5RZ
Imposing red brick and white stone JW Lees pub on Greengate Roundabout. This is a 2-roomed community local with pool, darts and cask ale.
Railway Hotel, 82 Dean Lane, M40 3AE
A large red brick Joseph Holt pub. There are several rooms in what is an interesting layout. Railway memorabilia features as a nod to the history of the railway depot next door. Has darts (Manchester Dartboard), TV and cask ale.
Charlestown, 204 Charlestown Road, M9 7ED
Large suburban pub owned by JW Lees. Pub has large lounge, vault room, beer garden and cask ale.
Blue Bell, 493 Moston Lane, M40 9PY
Large red brick Victorian Joseph Holt pub dating from 1890. Interesting ‘spire’ style structure and 4 distinct rooms inside, all interconnected around a central bar. Typical Holts community feel and serves cask ale.
Fairway Inn, Nuthurst Road, M40 3PL
Joseph Holt pub that reopened in 2017, after a major refurbishment. Offers an extensive food menu and cask ale available. Outdoor seating area with canopies available.
