City start New year with a loss

Bradford Park Avenue recorded their first win in five league games at the Horsfall Stadium.

The Avenue saw an early goal disallowed. A loose ball was collected by Deacey who spotted the run of Beesley.
Despite a clinical right-footed finish, the linesman raised his flag to indicate offside against the striker.

City took an early lead when a short pass from Alex Davidson was intercepted by Ellis Deeney, who delivered a perfect chip to Moore, and his low shot went underneath the Avenue goalkeeper John Lamb from close range .

Three minutes later, the Avenue equalised with a well-worked move. Following good hold-up play by Beesley, the striker found his captain Nathan Hotte, who delivered a low cross to Boshell and the midfielder’s toe-poked effort found the net.

With the scores level and Bradford pressing City broke clear when Tyler Weir escaped a challenge and delivered an excellent low cross to Moore, but the striker’s shot spun off his boot and over the crossbar from three yards.

The miss was to cost City dear as within minutes they were 3-1 down.

After receiving possession, Hotte picked out Davidson with a diagonal 40 yard pass, and after skipping past Matt Regan, the winger’s floated cross was nodded home by Deacey at the far post.

Before the half time whistle, Bradford extended their lead. As the ball was cleared by the City defence, Walker and Boshell linked up to create an opening for the winger, and his low cross was tapped in by Beesley from close range.

After the break, City nearly reduced the arrears. A neat inside pass found the unmarked Richard Taundry, who unleashed a powerful right-footed effort from 25 yards, and Lamb produced a fingertip save.

City were soon 4-1 down when an in-swinging corner from Boshell found the unmarked Beesley, and his flick was headed by Knowles towards goal but Veiga tipped the ball over. From the resulting corner, Deacey’s perfect delivery was nodded home by Adam Clayton from eight yards.

With ten minutes remaining, Bradford were awarded a penalty. Captain Hotte chased the ball and won possession for his side before picking out Deacey inside the box. Following good footwork, the midfielder was brought down and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Boshell stepped up and his left-footed effort flew into the top corner.

With a four-goal cushion, John Deacey introduced Gardner for his debut and within three minutes the new signing scored his first goal for the club with his first touch. Following a City attack, the Avenue worked the ball to Walker, who delivered a teasing cross into the box, and as Chib Chilaka failed to connect with the ball, Gardner side-footed the ball into the bottom corner from 10 yards.