The National League has been in discussions with BT Sport on the timing restriction on Clubs placing their highlights online and the difficulties this can cause some Clubs.
Yesterday BT Sport confirmed they are in agreement for the restriction to be amended so that Clubs can upload their highlights immediately following the BT Sport National League highlights show, rather than the current restriction.
Whilst the timing of the BT Sport highlights show may vary – they are typically scheduled at 10pm, finishing at 10.30pm, with this being the case for the forthcoming weeks.
Should there be any amends to the timings we will ensure they are sent to the Clubs.
Should there not be a weekend highlights show, highlights cannot be uploaded until after the blackout in accordance with Article 48.
In relation to midweek highlights, these can be shown immediately following the completion of the game. This amendment is effective immediately and the League are grateful to BT Sport for this concession.
MATCH PREVIEW – AFC Fylde vs Bradford (Park Avenue) – The Green Army travel west for Matchday 10 of the Vanarama National League North.
Bradford (Park Avenue) will be looking to end a run of four straight defeats in all competitions as they travel west to take on AFC Fylde at Mill Farm on Saturday.
Mark Bower’s men currently sit bottom of the National League North and are still searching for their first win of the season, a stark contrast to this weekend’s opponents AFC Fylde who are looking strong in fourth place after collecting 16 points from a possible 24.
The Avenue are heading in to the game off the back of a controversial 2-1 defeat at Northern League Division One side Ashington in the FA Cup, a result which left manager Mark Bower feeling “angry, disappointed and embarrassed” in his post-match interview.
A strong reaction is expected after Bower and his men were left with some soul-searching to do following the loss to Ashington, with the Avenue boss also reflecting on the urgent need for change within his side, cautiously admitting that if he does not change something quick it might be Bower himself and assistant Danny Boshell who end up being changed.
One reason for optimism for the Green Army in the aftermath of Saturday’s defeat was the impact of substitute Will Longbottom, on for the final fifteen minutes of the game and netting a goal that made for an interesting finish. The Avenue fans will be hoping to see more of the same from the Yorkshireman as they look to finally kick-start their season with an away win this weekend.
AFC Fylde will no doubt be optimistic heading into this encounter on the back of a five game unbeaten run in all competitions. The Lancashire side currently sit in fourth position with five wins from their opening eight fixtures, and will once again be chasing promotion after a disappointing play-off defeat to Boston United ended their hopes last season. The Avenue will also need to be mindful of the Coasters’ star man Nick Haughton who already has five league goals to his name this season.
Furthermore, Bradford (Park Avenue) will be looking to improve their dismal head-to-head record against the Coasters having never beaten them in league or cup since the latter were founded as Kirkham and Wesham in 1988. When the two sides met last season, AFC Fylde emerged victorious with 2-0 victories in both National League North fixtures.
Travelling fans can find the stadium at Mill Farm Sports Village, Coronation Way, Wesham, Lancashire, PR4 3JZ.
All tickets can be purchased online or on the gate. For those wishing to purchase standing tickets, the prices are; Adult £12.00, Young Guns (16-20) £7.00, Junior (12-15) £6.00, Under 12’s FREE when accompanied by a full paying adult. Alternatively, seating is available at £18.00 for Adults, £10.00 for Juniors (12-15) and £8.00 for Under 12’s.
Avenue travelled to Ashington in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup and, despite their recent excellent League record in this part of the country, came away at the wrong end of a 2 – 1 score line.
No team ever relishes a Cup-tie in the north-east and Avenue came a cropper against Northern League opposition, a fate becoming many teams over the years.
The home side took an early fifth-minute lead with the unlucky Reece Staunton being credited with an own goal, before they went further in front following a corner after 74 minutes giving Avenue what felt like a mountain to climb.
Will Longbottom then entered the fray as a substitute and managed to pull a goal back seven minutes later. This raised hopes of a comeback and, when Harrison Hopper made a short pass inside, the unmarked Eddie Church stretched to put the ball into an open goal from close range. The linesman made an immediate offside call, yet both Avenue players involved in the move appeared to be onside and no one else was interfering with play.
Avenue were not at their best in this match, but could reasonably have felt they should have been heading home looking forward to a replay.
Manager Mark Bower sent on academy prospect George Eze for his senior debut in the final few minutes, a moment George will remember for a long time and a move which will have been noted by all the other players at the academy, giving them real hope that they may be able to follow in his footsteps.
Disappointing as it may be, Avenue were not alone as Vanarama North sides Brackley, Leamington, Spennymoor and Telford all suffered defeat to lower-ranked opposition.
And, they mustn’t let this setback affect their optimism for Fylde on Saturday. Influential captain Luca Havern is hoping to be back after injury and fortune favours the brave, as the saying goes.
Mark Bower was honest about Avenue’s form after the game in saying: ‘The lads are better than what they’re producing at the minute. Clearly, we need to change something because we’re not getting the results we should be.’
Ashington have now got through four rounds of the FA Cup, which includes beating Northern Premier League high-flyers Ashton United less than two weeks earlier, and were naturally cock-a-hoop after the game. Manager Ian Skinner said: ‘I’m hoping for another home tie in the next round because nobody will want to come here – we’ll be the team that others will be saying, ‘I don’t fancy going up there!’
Severely limited in their team selection, with four squad members unavailable, Avenue were still able to give in-form Leamington a run for their money before succumbing to a narrow defeat.
Despite an overall below-par performance in the opening half hour, Avenue came close to scoring twice before half-time. With the game still goalless, Eddie Church put in a near-post cross from the right and, in the blink of an eye, Will Longbottom’s poke towards goal from close in beat the goalkeeper only to be cleared away by a covering defender.
George-Sykes Kenworthy made one excellent low save from a close-range header, but had little chance to stop a fierce shot giving the lively home side the lead after twenty minutes.
Then, as the interval approached, Harrison Hopper’s chip over the keeper from Sam Fielding’s well-weighted ball over the defence saw a defender again in position to clear off the line.
Avenue began to get more of a foothold in the game in the second half when Leamington’s attacking threat diminished. Luca Havern had a goal disallowed for an alleged foul in the build-up and Jacob Blyth volleyed narrowly wide from 25 yards, but Avenue had to wait until the closing minutes to apply any pressure.
Then, throwing men forward, Jacob Blyth tested the keeper with a header and a shot by Sam Fielding from the edge of the box was fortuitously deflected wide of the post with the Avenue players appealing in vain that it had struck the defender’s arm.
Once Avenue start scoring on a regular basis, and this may only be a game away, they could well become a tricky opponent but, in the meantime, a lack of goals is naturally causing frustration for players and fans alike.
Manager Mark Bower had this to say about the game: ‘We need something to go for us. We don’t seem to get any kind of thing go our way’ – in particular referring to Luca Havern’s disallowed goal after Eddie Church had appeared to be clattered into in the box.
And, despite feeling Leamington should have had a further goal for their early dominance, their manager Paul Holleran followed a familiar theme by saying his side had to dig deep and that they just about edged it at the end.
With Avenue depleted by the loss of Simon Richman and Jamie Spencer to injury and suspension respectively, the squad showed good strength in depth but just couldn’t find the finishing touch and fell to a 1 – 0 defeat against visitors Spennymoor.
An excellent opportunity to take the lead had come after only three minutes when hesitancy between the keeper and a defender on the edge of the penalty area enabled Sam Fielding to nip in and steal the ball but, in being forced wide, Avenue were unable to capitalise.
After a promising first quarter for the home side in which a tricky run from inside his own half by Shane Maroodza ended with Will Longbottom firing just over from 18 yards, Spennymoor then sounded a warning with George Sykes-Kenworthy appearing to get a touch on a fierce rising angled shot which hit the near post. The visitors then took the lead after forty minutes with a well-worked goal which seemed to take the wind out of Avenue’s sails for a while.
As Avenue tried to bounce back after half-time, Andre Brooks had a goal disallowed for offside and shortly afterwards Will Longbottom was put through on goal, but a defender did just enough to prevent him getting in a clean shot and the keeper made a comfortable save.
The visitors, however, were continuing to look dangerous and had one close-range shot which clipped the home crossbar.
In making attacking substitutions during the last half hour to try to get something out of the game, Eddie Church found space at the far post from a free kick but had his angled shot kept out by the keeper’s foot. Avenue then had to wait until the final minutes for another good chance to get an equaliser when, from ten yards out, Jacob Blyth blasted a loose ball towards goal following a corner only for a defender to somehow stick out a leg and divert the ball round the post.
The Spennymoor players’ reaction to this told that they knew without that important intervention they would have been heading back north with only one point.
When the referee then failed to spot a blatant push in the penalty area, it went to prove that it was just not Avenue’s day.
It may be of little consolation at the present time, but Avenue’s first three opponents of the season at Horsfall all currently sit in the top six. And, while the table does not lie over the course of a season, it could easily be argued from the overall form of the side so far, that Avenue deserve a higher placing in the League than the one they currently occupy.
Manager Mark Bower was to say afterwards: ‘Nothing’s going our way at the minute. It’s been a difficult start for us. We’re just coming out the wrong side of tight games.’
From a Spennymoor perspective, their stand-in skipper Joe Tait was relieved to get the win, stating: ‘It was a magnificent three points because they’re no mugs, they’ll take points off teams, particularly on this pitch. It was a tough game.’
A third-successive point on the road was achieved at Chorley, despite playing the entire second half with only ten men after Shane Maroodza was shown a red card in first-half time added on. Shane was the unlucky one to have to go, following an altercation, while his opponent only received a yellow card.
Losing a player on the stroke of half time at least gave Avenue a chance to reorganise back in the changing room and the players came out for the second half to continue to give a solid display.
The home side, who had won 4 – 1 at Boston the week before, were allowed few chances to score throughout a game in which Avenue also had trouble finding a clear opening.
Unfortunately, the match itself will probably be remembered most for further incidents later in the game. Harrison Hopper received a booking, then one of Chorley’s substitutes who had been booked a little earlier was sent off as the final whistle approached for some off-the-ball pushing and shoving with Jacob Blyth. Blyth, who played for Chorley last season, was shown a yellow card for his part in the affair.
Manager Mark Bower said afterwards: ‘I thought the lads were magnificent in terms of their effort, work rate and desire to keep a clean sheet. They’ve given absolutely everything for us.’ And on our attacking play: ‘We certainly got in some very good areas and just lacked that final pass.’
With this game past the ninety-minute mark and it looking inevitable that Avenue would have to settle for a draw against one of the teams expected to challenge for promotion, the home side were rocked by a Kidderminster winner in the third minute of time added on.
This cruel blow came after Avenue had held the Kidderminster attack well while managing to create only a limited number of chances at the other end.
The best of these was probably when Andre Brooks let fly with a strong, low shot from 25 yards just after half-time, which the visiting keeper dropped on to save.
Much of the game, however, had seen few chances created by either side in windy conditions, as both teams generally cancelled each other out.
In the end, a looping header gave George Sykes-Kenworthy little or no chance in goal and Avenue virtually no time to respond. To make it even more frustrating, this was the visitors only serious attempt on target throughout the whole match.
There can be no surprise if Avenue have already marked this one down as a result to be reversed when the two sides meet again at Aggborough Stadium later in the season.
Avenue took a welcome point from their visit to newly-promoted Scarborough on Tuesday evening, but it could and possibly should have been all three after leading 2 – 0 with only five minutes plus added time remaining.
After only six minutes Jamie Spencer put Avenue ahead with a simply tremendous goal – a clever lofted shot from halfway – a la David Beckham – made all the more spectacular by the keeper’s valiant attempt to keep it out. If there was any justice this would earn Jamie a ticket into the Premiership and he certainly deserved to be walking on air for the rest of the game. This goal will be watched over and over again on the BPA twitter account and mustn’t be missed!
With Avenue in the ascendancy and playing the better football, the lead was extended through the lively Andre Brooks just five minutes into the second half. Showing poise and composure on the edge of the six-yard box he took a touch before drilling a loose ball into the net following a corner.
After looking like becoming the first win of the season as the latter stages approached, the game was transformed following some controversial refereeing decisions. Scarborough pulled a goal back after 85 minutes and grabbed an equaliser five minutes later, with Jamie Spencer dismissed following a scuffle after the final whistle.
Manager Mark Bower, who was quite restrained in his after-match comments, said: ‘A lot of the performance was good, particularly up front, but I’m just gutted.’
