3 Nov 2022

MATCH PREVIEW – Chester FC (A)

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Match Preview – Chester FC vs Bradford (Park Avenue) – The Green Army are back on the road as they travel to the English-Welsh border this weekend in the Vanarama National League North.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will be looking for consecutive away wins for the first time since March 2019 when they take on Chester FC at The Deva Stadium on Saturday.

Mark Bower’s men head to Chester in fine form following a hard-fought 2-1 victory at home to high-flying Gloucester City on a wet Monday evening under the lights of the Horsfall Community Stadium, a result which saw them bag a fourth win in five games. The three points meant Avenue climbed out of the relegation zone and into 19th, however, Tuesday’s National League North results elsewhere were less than favourable as points gained for Kettering Town and Boston United pushed the Avenue back down to 21st.

Regardless of this, the picture remains optimistic for Avenue who are currently one of the in-form teams in the National League North. Only last weekend’s opponents Brackley Town, who sit joint-top of the table, have gained more points in the last five games. Bower will also be hoping he can call on in-form striker Jacob Blyth for the trip to Chester. The number nine was withdrawn early in the second half on Monday after scoring the opener and has netted three goals in his last four games for the Avenue.

This weekend’s hosts are also enjoying a good run of form themselves, having picked up ten points out of a possible twelve on their current four-game unbeaten run. However, the Avenue will be looking to take advantage of Chester’s inconsistent home form, as The Seals are yet to register back-to-back wins this season.

Avenue’s defence will be keen to shackle Chester’s top scorer Kurt Willoughby. The 25-year-old, who joined Chester in the summer from last season’s play-off winners York City, has netted six goals in fifteen appearances this season, averaging 0.41 goals per game.

The head-to-head table shows Avenue and Chester all square.  Since the formation of Chester FC as a phoenix club to the former Chester City FC in 2010, the sides have met on nine occasions in the National League North, sharing three wins apiece and three draws. The most recent meeting came in the penultimate game of last season, with Chester emerging 4-0 winners over an Avenue side that had already secured National League North football for another season. The Green Army will be hoping to swing the head-to-head table in their favour this Saturday with the prospect of once again climbing out of the league’s relegation places.

Kick off: Saturday 5th November 2022, 3pm

Stadium address: Deva Stadium, Bumpers Lane, Chester, CH1 4LT – Directions to the Deva Stadium can be found here

Tickets: In advance online purchased here – Adults £17.00, Concessions £14.00, 18-21yo £12.00, 12-17yo £3.00, Under 12s FREE.

Please note there will be a £1 increase on these prices when buying online, paying at the turnstile or purchasing from the ticket office on the day of a game.

Writer – Stephen Grimshaw

2 Nov 2022

MATCH REPORT – Bradford (Park Avenue) 2 – 1 Gloucester City

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The Avenue’s faithful were treated to a ‘Spooktacular’ three points beating high-flying Gloucester City on Horsfall’s hallowed ground.

Mark Bower wanted a response from his side’s 1-2 defeat to Brackley Town at the weekend and he got just that.

A rain-soaked evening that could have been a nightmare turned out to be a thriller as Bradford secured an entertaining 2-1 win over a Gloucester side boasting a six-game unbeaten run.

Avenue took a seventh minute lead through the in-form Jacob Blyth.   He got on the end of a low cross into the box and tapped it in from close range. 

This provoked Gloucester into a response which they secured in the 35th minute through Matt McClure, taking them into the break on even terms.

Avenue weren’t disheartened by the set back and it was they who eventually found the killer blow. Bradley Dockerty hit a fabulous strike from the edge of the box ten minutes into the second half, the ball taking a deflection on its way past the helpless Gloucester keeper.

Gloucester had their chances to equalise, including a scary long-range lob which hit the top of the Avenue bar, but the home defence held firm.

The victory lifts Avenue into 21st position and makes it four wins out of five.

Avenue have now put a bit of daylight between themselves and the bottom two as they go into this weekend’s game, confident they can pull off another upset against mid-table Chester FC.

Writer: James Fletcher

24 Oct 2022

MATCH PREVIEW – Blyth Spartans v Bradford (Park Avenue)

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Avenue could launch themselves away from danger tomorrow night with a third win on the bounce.

Tomorrow evening (25th October) The Avenue could propel themselves away from the danger zone when they travel to fellow strugglers Blyth Spartans who sit just two places above Bradford (PA) in the league table.

Since The Avenue secured that first win of the season against Curzon Ashton, they have won back-to-back games after an 86-minute penalty which was dispatched calmly by Jacob Blyth, securing victory over Hereford Town and come the final whistle tomorrow it could be a hattrick of wins for Bradford (PA).

Blyth Spartans have not won in the league since the end of August when they beat Buxton 2-1 away from home, since then they have only managed three points out of their last five games all of which have come at home.

The last five meetings between these two sides have predominantly seen the Avenue come out on top beating them three times and drawing twice, with the last away win against Blyth ending in a 3-1 victory for the Avenue at the end of last season. 

A win tomorrow could see the Avenue climb as high as 18th in the league depending on the score line and other results going in their favour and could set them in good stead when they host high flying Brackley Town at the weekend.

(Park Avenue) have had a torrid start to the season losing seven of their opening league games and it looked as though that first win would never come as they lingered above the trap door, but if Bradford (Park Avenue) could go on a little run, it would give their survival chances a huge boost.

Writer: James Fletcher

Standing Tickets are priced online at £12 for Adults, £7 for Concessions, £5 for 11-16s and Students, and £3 for under 10s.

Seated tickets are priced online at £14 for Adults, £9 for Concessions, £7 for 11-16s and Students, and £2 for under 10s.

You can purchase tickets to the match on the Blyth Spartan’s website by clicking here.

For travel details, follow the map below or click here to visit footballgroundguide.com for more details on Croft Park.

23 Oct 2022

MATCH REPORT – Bradford (Park Avenue) 1 – 0 Hereford

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Late Jacob Blyth penalty gives Bradford Park Avenue their second win of the season

1-0 win at home against Hereford FC means back-to-back wins.

The home team Bradford (Park Avenue) came into the game on the back of their first win of the season against Curzon. Their aim was to build on that and ensure it wasn’t a false dawn.

Their opposition Hereford came into the fixture in fine form having not lost in their last 6 matches and coming off a 2-1 win in the FA Cup and a 4-2 demolition of Boston United.

The game started slowly with chances coming few and far between, Avenue looking to create through crosses from Reece Staunton into the target man Jacob Blyth.

This led to a near chance for joint top scorer Jamie Spencer whose shot from the edge of the box was blocked by a Hereford center back.

Hereford’s first clear cut chance came in the form of an Evans cross dropping to right-winger Mclean who scuffed his shot into Sykes-Kenworthy’s gloves.

Both teams looked to build up quickly, Hereford with their midfield double pivot and Bradford using the height of Blyth with Dockerty making runs off him.

The last chance off the half came in the 32nd minute when Hereford’s Tyler failed to claim a Staunton free-kick, the ball falling nicely to Hopper whose attempt was cleared just in front of the 6 yard box with the keeper in no man’s land.

Hereford began the second half lively, building up on the left then creating a chance for Hanson just on the edge of the box. His shot was collected calmly by Avenue’s keeper.

A long period of possession for Bradford lead to Thomas Angell having a great chance in the 57th minute, as he faked onto his weaker right foot and shot into a Hereford defender.

Clever footwork from Reece Staunton who drifted over to the right wing gave him space to get a shot off which was saved comfortably by Hereford’s Cian Tyler.

In the 84th minute the pressure paid off. Hopper was slotted in behind on the right and was bundled over winning a penalty for the home side.

Jacob Blyth Bradford’s number 9 then blasted the penalty into the top left corner making it 1-0 with 5 minutes to go.

From that point onwards, Avenue’s only aim was to run down the clock as much as possible. They did this successfully not allowing Hereford any late chances with game finishing 1-0.

Bradford (PA) now see themselves off the bottom of the table. This puts them in a great position going into their next game against Blyth Spartans on Tuesday.

Attendance:561

Referee: Helen Conley

Writer: Ethan Illingworth

19 Oct 2022

MATCH PREVIEW – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Hereford

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Match Preview – Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Hereford FC – The Green Army play host to the Bulls in the Vanarama National League North.

Bradford (Park Avenue) will be hoping to build on their vital 2-1 home win against Curzon Ashton last time out as they welcome Hereford to the Horsfall Community Stadium on Saturday.  That win gives Avenue a much-welcomed confidence boost, as they head into their second home game in a row, having displayed great character to come from behind and pick up their first three points of the season.  The result may not have moved Avenue off the bottom, but it doubled their points tally and brought the club to within three points of safety.

The visitors this weekend sit in 13th place in National League North and are enjoying something of a revival, having picked up seven points from a possible nine in their last three games. Hereford fans will be hoping the inconsistency shown in the early part of the season is behind them.

One potential headache for Avenue boss Mark Bower is the question whether to stick with the eleven players who started the victory over Curzon Ashton. One player who will certainly be arguing his case for selection is super-sub, Will Longbottom who, not for the first time this season, came off the bench late on to grab a vital goal for his side.

Hereford have enjoyed a rich vein of form in front of goal this season.  They have the joint sixth highest tally in National League North and their seventeen goals have been scored by ten different players.  Experienced dangerman and joint-top scorer Tyrone Barnett will be hoping to be on the scoresheet again after netting in the Bulls’ 4-2 thrashing of Boston United last time out. The 36-year-old struck in the league for the first time since his double against Spennymoor Town on the opening day of the season and will be aiming to become the club’s outright top-scorer.

Avenue will look to take confidence from their excellent head-to-head record over Hereford FC since the formation of the latter as a phoenix club for Hereford United in 2014. Of the seven official meetings between the two sides, Avenue have won four, drawn two and lost one, remaining unbeaten against the Bulls in all fixtures at the Horsfall Community Stadium. The Green Army will be hoping to continue this impressive record beyond the upcoming fixture this weekend.