15 Sep 2022

MATCH PREVIEW – James Fletcher gives his thoughts on our FA Cup tie v Ashington AFC

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Match Preview – Ashington AFC vs Bradford PA – The Green Army travel north for their first FA Cup match of the season in the 2nd Qualifying Round

Bradford (PA) and other fellow Vanarama National League North and South teams enter the fray in this season’s FA Cup competition, which sees Bradford (Park Avenue) playing away at Ashington AFC.

The level 9 club currently play their football in the Northern League Division One and boast an impressive unbeaten league run, winning 5 out of 6 as well as progressing through the extra Preliminary, Preliminary and 1st Qualifying Round’s to make it this far, their only defeat came in the FA Vase losing 4-6 to Billingham Town.

Ashington score on average between 2 or 3 goals a game, which could be problematic for The Avenue as they have only managed to average one goal per game so far this season but playing lower league opposition this could be the perfect opportunity to build the confidence of the Bradford forwards.

Bradford PA’s best run in the FA Cup was reaching the Quarter finals on three seperate occasions with the most recent being 1945/46 season, but since their reform they have only managed to reach the first proper round three times, in 2003/04, 2011/12 and finally 2012/13.

The Avenue will be hoping to put their dismal league form out of their minds as they look to progress to the next round, and cup competitions can provide a welcome distraction for clubs and a win this weekend could see an up turn in form when they return to league action the following week. 

Mark Bower will be hoping for his sides first win of the season and not a repeat of last season, when The Avenue were knocked out in this very round, losing to Gateshead who were later found guilty of fielding an ineligible player during the game which caused major controversy, with Gateshead only receiving a fine rather than dismissal from the competition by the FA.

The club called the decision ‘a disgrace and a scandal’

The game will be played on Saturday the 17th of September and played at Woodhorn Lane, NE63 9FW, discounted tickets purchased online for this game are £7 for adults, £1 for under 16s and £3 for seniors/students.  

Please note that tickets purchased on the turnstiles are priced at £8 Adults, £4 for Seniors/Students, and £2 for u16s.

Travelling to the game? Check out the map below, or click here.

To purchase tickets, click here.

22 Sep 2018

Match Preview: Darlington vs. Bradford (Park Avenue)

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The Emirates FA Cup journey begins today as Bradford make the trip to Blackwell Meadows to face Darlington.

The Quakers did the double over Mark Bower’s side last season but have made a slow start to the 2018/19 campaign. They sit 17th in the league, seven points adrift of 4th-placed Bradford, who remain in the play-off positions despite stuttering with two consecutive defeats in recent weeks.

Bradford were dealt a difficult hand in the prestigious competition last year but advanced into the next round with an impressive away win over National League North counterparts Southport. They faced Harrogate Town in last year’s third qualifying round but despite forcing a replay, were beaten and subsequently knocked out.

Darlington didn’t fare as well in the competition last year, suffering a 3-0 home defeat to South Shields in the second qualifying round.

Speaking after last week’s defeat to Altrincham, midfielder Nicky Clee stressed the importance of producing a response against the Quakers:

“It’s really important that we produce a response. We discussed how important it was before the Altrincham game and our performance was better but we didn’t get the result. Hopefully, we can get both next week (performance and result).”

GUIDE TO THE OPPONENTS:

The Gaffer:

Tommy Wright

Darlington’s manager, alongside assistant Alan White, was presented to Quakers supporters at Blackwell Meadows ahead of the club’s league win over Bradford in October 2017. A young boss at 33, he enjoyed two spells with Darlington as a player and plied his trade in Yorkshire with Barnsley and Harrogate Town. The former striker has also played in the Premier League, entering as a substitute in Leicester City’s 2-0 defeat to Leeds United in March 2002. His management career began in 2013 with Corby Town, where he registered as a player but also took on managerial duties. Wright made the switch to Nuneaton Town as a player-coach three years later before eventually being handed the reins. He was officially appointed as Darlington manager on 20th October 2017.

One To Watch:

Stephen Thompson

The likes of Gibraltar international Reece Styche and former Bradford man Simon Ainge may grab the headlines, but Thompson is key for the Quakers. The winner of the club’s 2017/18 Player of the Year award, Thompson can operate as a striker or on either flank and his direct running makes him one for opposition defences to look out for. He joined the club in September 2012 from Durham City, having failed to make the grade at Middlesbrough and finding first-team opportunites limited at Port Vale. Thompson also had a stint with AFC Telford United and scored against his former employers a fortnight ago.

Live updates: @BPAFCOfficial on Twitter