Horsfall Stadium, home of Bradford Park Avenue based in West Yorkshire and play their trade in the National league North. A historic club to say the least! A former Football League club for over 60 years! And shared a rivalry with Bradford City! But sadly folded shortly after dropping out of the Football League in the 1970s. The club wasn’t gone for too long and reformed years later and moved into the Horsfall Stadium where they currently reside and leaving their old ground which ironically was called Park Avenue! For those wondering where the club gets it’s name from.
A Monday night with no work in the morning can only mean one thing! Let’s find a game to go to! Bradford Park Avenue against Blyth Spartans is the closest option and with the National League North providing me with good games of the ones I have watched this season, off I go!! The train to Leeds and then to Bradford and then the bus journey to the ground… Hope I can get home tonight… £14 to watch this National League North game! Game on! Great to meet a former Steward here who is very kindly giving me a guided tour of the ground and club!
Kick Off! 2 minutes in and Blyth bomb forward down the left with JJ O’Donnell, he plays it across low, it comes for Robbie Dale just inside the box to shoot first time… Good Block! Bradford clear. “Come on Bradford!” A group of Bradford fans banging that drum and making some noise here! Great to bump into Tony and the usual Oldham fans again tonight! Best part of the hobby! Meeting friends and other football fans!!
A bright start to the game but that would not set the tone for any other chances so far at the moment. 22 minutes played and Bradford have a free kick about 35 yards out, Isaac Marriott to take, he goes for the cross, headed away by Blyth but only to Oliver Arblaster who gets it on the right wing, he crosses… That could go anywhere… It’s just gone past the far post! Nearly all the way in!
Bradford fans still banging that drum!! 30 minutes on the clock and Bradford come forward down the right wing, it’s crossed in, it evades everyone but comes to Mitchell Lund on the far side of the box, he goes for goal… He’s hit the post!! Blyth clear. So close! 33rd minute and Bradford play a through ball to Francis Akeel and he gets to it and charges into the box, he shoots… It’s wide! Has to hit the target there for me! “Da da dadada dadadada Bradford!” Good spell for Bradford and the fans are happy too!
36th minute now and Blyth have a free kick about 30 yards out, Robbie Dale to step up… It’s off the bar!!! David Beckham himself would have been proud of that if he’d scored that! 1 minute later and Connor Thomson drives forward, he gets into the box on the right and he shoots… Keeper saves! Good spell for Blyth now!
40th minute and Blyth break forward and play the ball to Connor Thomson again, he gets into the box on the right and goes for the far corner again… Wide! 44 minutes now and Blyth play a ball forward… That’s poorly dealt with by Bradford there and the keeper comes out… Dan Maguire beats him to it and gets past him, he’s at a tight angle and he plays it across to JJ O’Donnell… He finishes!!! Blyth take the lead!! 0-1!!
Right on half time now and Bradford play a long ball forward, Francis Akeel challenges for it and he wins it inside the box and he goes for goal… It’s straight at the keeper… Should have done better there! At half time the score remains 1-0 in Blyth’s favour.
Second half, 53 minutes played and Bradford come forward down the left flank, it’s crossed in, header at goal from Dylan Mottley-Henry… Just wide! 58 minutes now and Bradford give the ball away just outside their own box cheaply, Connor Thomson is played through in the box on the left, he pulls the trigger… Keeper saves! Great to meet a Blyth fan here along with a man from Scotland here tonight! Once again: Best part of the hobby!
65 minutes on the clock and Bradford come forward down the left again, played in low, through the crowd of players to Simon Richman… Shot blocked! Out for a corner, in it comes… Blyth clear. 2 minutes later and Bradford won the left wing once again, crossed in towards the far post, Luca Havern is there with the header… YES!! He’s got it! Bradford are level! 1-1!!
72nd minute and Blyth play the ball out wide to the right to Connor Thomson, he beats his man and plays it across low, Dan Maguire with the flick… OH! Great reaction save by the keeper! It’s a corner for Blyth, in it comes… Headed at goal… Over! There was a touch from Bradford there says the Referee and it’s another corner, in it comes again… Keeper punches away and Bradford clear.
75th minute and Bradford win the ball in midfield with Luke Rawson, he drives forward and gets to the right of the edge of the box, he lets fly… OOOOOHHHHHH!!!! WHAT ABOUT THAT!!! An absolute thunderbolt there by Rawson in off the post!! What a hit!! Bradford have turned it around here! 2-1!
“Since I was young! I followed them! Bradford Park Ave! The team for me!” Bradford fans in good spirits once again! Can Blyth respond? 82 minutes on the clock and Bradford play a long ball forward, it falls to Isaac Marriott about 35 yards out and he goes for the half volley… Tipped over by the keeper! It could have so easily been another cracker!
Blyth are pushing for the equaliser in the closing stages now, can they find it? Into stoppage time and Blyth have a throw in on the left, played to Michael Liddle and he cuts inside in the box on his right and shoots… Good save by the keeper… Bradford clear! No one there for Blyth…
1 minute later and Blyth come down the right wing, crossed in, all the way over to the left side for Blyth to retrieve it, he beats his man brilliantly and the cross comes in… Goal line scramble… Did that cross the line!!!???? Bradford clear but Blyth are certain that was in… Linesman’s flag stays down but Blyth are furious!! I thought it was in myself but the goal will not be given! The Referee blows for full time! A good win for Bradford but Blyth will feel hard done by there…
FT: Bradford Park Avenue 2-1 Blyth Spartans
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 5/10 – The Bradford drum was banging quite a lot! A good crowd in here tonight!
- The Ground: 5/10 – It’s not bad! The stand is what makes this ground I think which makes for good viewing but as I’ve mentioned before, not a fan of these grounds with running tracks around them and there was only access on the stand’s side of the ground but it’s not bad and I liked the clubhouse and the memorabilia shop!
- Expense: 10/10 – £14 for 3 goals! A cracker to win it and a bit of drama at the end! Thank you very much!
- Overall Experience: 9/10 – Great to see Tony again and meet the Blyth fan and the Aberdeen fan here tonight and for the guided tour! A great game tonight too!
29/40
Nice one Jake. Must have missed that one. Great stuff!!