Bradford Park Avenue 7-1 Grimsby Borough: Match Report

Bradford Park Avenue 7-1 Grimsby Borough: Match Report

The Wilderness boys made the Friday night trip to the Horsfall Community Stadium hoping to continue their positive recent run against a high-flying Bradford Park Avenue side who were looking to steal a march on the other pacesetters and to go top of the Northern Premier League (East).

However, it turned out to be a night to forget for Tom Claisse’s side, who never got going, and were on the end of a heavy defeat against an impressive Avenue outfit.

Following changes in midweek’s Lincolnshire FA Senior County Cup win over Gainsborough Trinity, Borough opted to return to the familiar setup that had picked up four points from their previous two league matches, keeping a pair of clean sheets in the process.

Heath Richardson started in goal, with Billy Bradley, Paul Walker, Tom Sawyer, and AJ Adelekan lining up as a back four in front of him. Bradley Wood once again anchored a narrow midfield that also included Sam Topliss, Josh Venney, Alex Flett, and Harvey Cribb; with Kieron Ceesay leading the attack.

Luke Ayris, Jack Barlow, Josh Clarke, Charlie Clements, and Tristan Drummond made up the substitutes bench.

First-half

The game began in frenetic fashion, with both sides looking to settle into their respective systems and rhythm in West Yorkshire.

However, as we reached the 15 minute mark, the hosts started to show an air of control, causing problems from set-pieces and probing football.

That pressure told when Bradford midfielder Brad Abbott fired past Richardson from the edge of the box, providing Craig Elliott’s side with the start they were looking for, allowing them to play with confidence and freedom.

By contrast, the Wilderness Boys were finding it difficult to retain possession or win second balls, as attacking midfielders Flett and Cribb were pinned back defending the wide areas, leaving Cessay isolated as the pressure continued to build.

The injured Hassan-Smith was replaced by Chorlton for the Avenue, but it did little to change the flow of the game, with the Green Army twice going close to doubling their lead inside the opening half-an-hour through efforts from Fox and Winfield respectively.

Just three minutes later, substitute Chorlton would make it two, however, as the hosts pounced on a defensive mix up, allowing the winger to find the corner.

There would be no respite for Claisse’s side, who found themselves quickly 3-0 down as Carver crossed for Fox to add to the scoreline, and leave Borough pleased to hear the half-time whistle.

Second-Half

Two changes at the break saw Ayris and Clarke replace Adelekan and Cribb as the Wilderness Boys looked to try and get a foothold in a game where they’d been unable to reach the levels shown of late.

However, despite a more controlled start to the second period, they’d soon find themselves four down as Fox cut in from the left to find the bottom corner.

Misambo headed wide from a corner for the hosts on the hour mark, before Chorlton got his second of the night with a powerful effort beyond Richardson.

Borough had shown a bit more composure in the second-half, with Clarke able to get on the ball, and Ayris being a threat on the counter.

However, the hosts were unrelenting, adding a sixth after 68 minutes; Parkin curling home from the edge of the box.

It really wasn’t the Wilderness Boys night, with Kieron Ceesay seeing his penalty saved by Bradford ‘keeper Lambton, who dived to his right to make a good stop with 13 minutes to play.

Claisse’s men would grab a consolation soon after, though, as Ayris’ saved shot was turned in by Wood on the rebound to give the travelling contingent something to cheer on a difficult evening.

Clements, Barlow, and Drummond replaced Venney, Walker, and Flett for the closing stages. However, the Avenue would find the net once more before the final whistle, substitute Andreucci’s left-footed finish compounding a thoroughly miserable evening in Bradford.

Manager Claisse and his men will be bitterly disappointed with how the match turned out, and, despite the home side’s quality, that Borough didn’t do themselves justice on the night.

They have a chance to put right those wrongs on Wednesday evening, when we make the trip to Stocksbridge Park Steels for our next NPL (East) matchup (19:45 kick-off).