Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC V Chester FC - Match Thread #38 - Vanarama

Following back-to-back home games we are back on the road today as we make the journey to Yorkshire to play Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC away where we look to preserve our unbeaten record under Steve Watson. Amid all of the drama that went on yesterday, it’s great to have on-field matters to focus on today which can hopefully distract us from the current fiasco off the pitch. The current league standings are incredibly tight at the moment with us sitting just four points outside the play-offs, therefore we really need to win this game today. We have a dismal record at the Horsfall Stadium, on artificial pitches, and away from home in general, but one thing I am expecting Steve Watson to transform is our culture as a club, so let’s hope we will get that monkey off our back today. Watson has already achieved the latter (winning an away match), so let’s hope we will record a rare win at the Horsfall today against a Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC side who are struggling near the bottom.

Our last match was on Sunday as we drew 1-1 at home against AFC Telford United in what was a rather frustrating afternoon for us. The first half was an even affair as both sides had their fair share of possession, with a lack of goalmouth action to boot. With roughly 10 minutes to go before half time Paddy Lacey headed into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to us. That proved to be the difference as we headed into the interval with a narrow lead in our favour. Meanwhile, our performance in the second period was below par because we were admittedly second best against the basement boys. It was a nightmare start to the 45 for us because only three minutes in Simon Grand was sent off for us due to dragging Jason Oswell down. From the following free kick, Brendon Daniels curled around the wall and into the bottom corner to ensure AFC Telford United made it 1-1. Bang on the 90th minute mark Kevin Roberts handled the ball from a corner which meant AFC Telford United were awarded with a penalty. Luckily for us though, Carl Baker’s penalty for AFC Telford United crashed against the crossbar for AFC Telford United to provide us with a huge sense of relief. We could may well have lost it at the end, but we didn’t so we had to settle for a draw.

Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC have had a dreadful start to the season as BPA sit just above the relegation zone, having mustered only three wins from their opening 17 matches. The Green Army are one of only two sides in our league who occupy an artificial pitch (with Gloucester City being the other club), but despite that they have failed to use it to their own advantage having won just two matches on their own patch all season. One thing that may play into our hands is that Park Avenue’s last scheduled fixture, at home to York City last Sunday, was postponed due to Covid-19 cases in Bradford’s squad so presuming they have barely had chance to train ahead of today’s game, hopefully we will capitalise on that as they will most probably be feeling rusty.

There have been a lot of changes to our squad since our last match against AFC Telford United on Sunday with two players departing the Deva in Jamie Morgan and Dan Cowan. However, we have made two fresh additions too in Rob Apter and David Fitzpatrick, so hopefully they will be handed their debuts over in Yorkshire today. This will be my third visit to the Horsfall Stadium with my previous two ventures being defeats, so hopefully we will finally break that duck. It isn’t a happy hunting ground for us either with our last two encounters there being our final matches before Covid intervened with those respective seasons, so let’s hope that won’t be the case today. The ironic thing though is that next Saturday’s game against Brackley Town could be played behind closed doors, so I really hope it won’t be a case of deja vu again! Come On City!


???????????????????? - Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC 0-2 Chester FC (Livesey, Apter).


???????????????????????????????????????? - 529 (221 Chester FC).


???????? ???????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????:
Gray
Horsfield Williams Livesey Fitzpatrick
Roberts
Apter Lacey Glendon Stephenson
Dudley.


???????????????????????????? - you can simply just pay at the turnstile at the Horsfall Stadium today by cash or card, with the prices being as follows ⬇️:
Adults - £14.00
Concessions (Over-65’s) - £10.00
Students - £5.00
Youths (12-17-year-olds) - £3.00
Juniors (under-12s) - £1.00.


???????????????? ???????????????????????? - away travel courtesy of the Hipkiss Express is available, and you can travel to Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC today for £17.00. Coaches depart the Deva Stadium at 11:15 with payment by cash only, while you must also wear a mask for the duration of the journey too.


???????????????????????????????????????? - Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC’s matchday programme is available to purchase for £3.00 from around the ground.


???????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? - for those who can’t attend today’s game, you can listen to the match on Seals Live for free by clicking on the link below ⬇️:
mixlr.com/chesterfc/


COYS!