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.

9 Oct 2022

MATCH REPORT – Bradford (PA) 2 – 1 Curzon Ashton

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Bradford (Park Avenue) bag their first win of the season, giving them a platform to build on.
(Attendance – 464)

The long wait for Bradford’s first win of season is finally over, as they had to come from behind against mid tabled side Curzon Ashton.

(Park Avenue) came out all guns blazing as their hunt for the first win of the season grows ever desperate and as they piled men forward came up against a Curzon brick wall with chance after chance going begging.

Bradford did have the ball in the back of the net from a corner, but the referee deemed there an unfair challenge and ruled out the goal much to the (Park Avenue’s) frustration, and then with 4 minutes from half time Curzon Ashton opened the scoring with pretty much their first meaningful chance, Mahon cut inside from the wing, creating some space for himself before he curled his effort into the top corner.

(Park Avenue) didn’t let their heads drop after the opening goal went against them, as they went into the second half with Church having chance after chance, Sykes-Kenworthy did have to keep his concentration and made some crucial saves to keep the score line at 1-0 going into the latter stages of the game.

10 minutes from time Bradford’s hard work throughout the game finally paid off through super sub -Will Longbottom, wo latched onto a Staunton cross to level the game, and then just a minute later Oli Johnson put the Avenue in front for the first time of the game.

But (Park Avenue) had to bear down the hatches for the remaining 9 minutes as the referee added 4 minutes on at the end of the 90, but with some dogged defending and more excellent last ditched saves from Kenworthy Bradford were able to hold on to their first home win of the season.

Mark Bower praised his side for their diligence and relentlessness as he told the Park Avenue media.

“I thought we deserved to win the game, I thought after the first half that we were the better side, but having a goal disallowed, a penalty decision that didn’t go our way and then their right backfires it in from 25 yards, it felt as though it was going to be one of those days.”

“But the lads dug deep and didn’t give up, the lads showed great character, and everyone goes home happy, and its nice to close that gap with teams above us.”

You can watch the full match highlights by clicking here, or by pressing play below.

YouTube player

Team: Sykes-Kenworthy, Lucas Odunston, Reece Staunton, Jamie Spencer (Longbottom 77′), Luca Havern (C), Sam Fielding, Harrison Hopper, Simon Richman, Jacob Blyth, Brad Dockerty (Church 5′), Thomas Angell (Johnson 66′).

Subs: Will Longbottom – Goal 84′, Eddie Church, Lloyd Smith, Oli Johnson – Goal 85′, Adam Nowakowski.

7 Oct 2022

AVENUE SIGN YOUNG PROSPECT ON LOAN FROM SHEFFIELD UNITED!

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The club are delighted to announce the loan signing of Thomas Angell from Sheffield United.

He follows in the footsteps of previous loan players from the Blades, such as Oli Arblaster, Harry Boyes, Frankie Maguire, Nickseon Gomis and most recently Andre Brooks.

Angell joins on a youth loan from the Championship side, and is available for selection in tomorrows match v Curzon Ashton. Stay tuned to our twitter @BPAFCOfficial for match updates!

4 Oct 2022

MATCH PREVIEW – Bradford (Park Avenue) v Curzon Ashton

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Bradford (Park Avenue) welcome Curzon Ashton to the Horsfall Stadium this weekend as they still search for the illusive first win of the season

It’s not been the best of starts for Bradford (Park Avenue) by any stretch of the imagination and are in desperate need their first win of the season as the pressure continues to ramp up on the players and management team to perform.

The past five meetings between these two sides don’t offer for pleasant reading, losing three and drawing 2 in all competitions, but could (Park Avenue) upset the form table and finally open their account for the season.

Curzon Ashton have had an upsurge in form as of late, going on a four-game unbeaten run since their defeat to Chester FC, beating the likes of FC United of Manchester and Gloucester City and will no hoping to take advantage of Bradford’s poor start to the season and continue and extend their run to five when they make the trip to West Yorkshire.

Curzon have scored 11 goals in their last five games only conceding six in all competitions, but with their FA Cup replay in mid-week and Park Avenue not playing, Bradford could use this to their advantage having those extra days of rest. 

Bradford’s attacking form has been a source of concern this season only converting four times in four games and conceding 12 remaining the only team in the league to not pick up a single win out of their opening 10 games.

As the games tick away the need and desperation of that first win grows, but playing in front of a home crowd could provide the spark that the players need.    

The game kicks off at 3pm at the Horsfall Stadium and could this be the time that Bradford (Park Avenue) kick off their season with a win against Curzon Ashton.  

You can also watch highlights from last seasons match v Curzon at the Horsfall below!

YouTube player
#UTA #BPAFC
3 Oct 2022

MATCH REPORT – Southport  4 – 1  Bradford (Park Avenue)

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Avenue travelled to nineteenth-placed Southport with high hopes of a good result but, with half a dozen players in the home side recently back from injury, it was a much tougher task than was expected.

With a strong wind blowing down the pitch, Avenue had it in their faces in a first half which Southport dominated after going ahead in the fifth minute. A perfect strike into the top corner from 22 yards gave George Sykes-Kenworthy at full stretch no chance at all in goal.

Finding it hard to relieve the pressure and with numerous chances falling to the home side, the score was nevertheless kept at 1 – 0 until two further goals just before half-time appeared to end the game as a contest, the second of these being a penalty.

However, a well-directed header by Harrison Hopper then gave Brad Dockerty the opportunity to take the ball past the last defender and calmly slot home in time added on to make the score 3 – 1 and give Avenue a lifeline.

YouTube player

Southport continued to create chances in the second half, though Avenue came more into the picture without really being able to trouble the keeper. They kept up their efforts to the end but were found stretched when a close-range header in added time completed the scoring.

While unable to have any complaints at the final outcome, one was left to wonder how the game might have gone had Southport not won the toss and Avenue had been able to have the wind at their backs in the first half.

Manager Mark Bower had this to say after the game: ‘Today we never put enough passes together to relieve pressure on ourselves. We’ve lost the chance to get anything from the game in that five minutes before half-time. That was self-inflicted.’ And, regarding the game as a whole: ‘We just didn’t play with enough quality.’

His counterpart at Southport, Liam Watson, looked at the more positive side of Avenue’s performance: ‘To be honest, you’ve got to give Bradford credit because they actually dug in and stayed in the game. You can see that they’re playing for the manager and they’re working their socks off and they could have actually crumbled, but they didn’t, so fair play to them.

‘In the second half you’re thinking you don’t want these to get a second one and (then) you’re wobbling. They were game, they worked. I don’t think they’ll finish bottom of the League, I definitely don’t. They dug in, they had a go. It was a good game, probably a really good game for the neutral.’

Team: Sykes-Kenworthy; Odunston, Staunton; Spencer, Havern, Lund (Smith 71); Longbottom (Blyth 56), Richman (Fielding 70), Dockerty, Church, Hopper. Unused subs: Hall, Johnson.

Avenue yellow cards: Spencer (38), Odunston (42).

Att. 802