With the Premier League, EFL and Women's Super League all postponed following the outbreak of the coronavirus, all that was left to be postponed was the pinnacle of English football- non-league.
The Horsfall Stadium welcomed fans of local Yorkshire teams who are attempting to deal with the recent postponements, hosting Leeds United, Huddersfield Town, Bradford City to achieve their record attendance of 685 for the league season. But it could've been more as 28k people viewed the relegation scrap live on Facebook which really does demonstrate the crucial role that football plays in many people's lives.
Bradford City neighbours Bradford Park Avenue currently sat rock bottom of the National League North, wayward of surviving Kettering Town by 12 points, it is beginning to become clear that Mark Bower's Avenue were not cut out for this level. However, BPA had recently turned heads with a passionate resurgence by defeating promotion chasing Chester and Kings Lynn Town in their past two games, they welcomed fellow strugglers Curzon Ashton. The Nash were sat in 18th and had picked up just three points in there past four games, including a draw against league toppers York City.
Bpa were lead out (not for handshakes) by captain Nicky Clee for a huge game which could potentially defy their less than pleasant league season.
In a scrappy game which saw the ball mainly being played in the air rather than on the floor, which was probably for the best due to the bobbly surface, it was a hard game to watch with neither side really showing they were on top. The Avenue defence appeared tight and well structured with Billy Priestley and Mitchell Lund identifying a strong partnership which kept Curzon Ashton forward Michael Calveley quiet- until the brink of half time when he ran onto a hoof up front before disposing the ball past Tom Nicholson in net to send the away supporters into the half time break with the bragging rights.
Into the second half and referee Peter Shacklady became the centre of attention, dishing out bookings left right and centre to whoever put a foot wrong, wherever if it was their first foul or not. As the Avenue fans began to become more and more disgruntled with the referee's dominating performance, the Bradford side began to come more and more into the game, with Alex Hurst coming closest after finding space just inside the box but his driven shot was excellently parried by Cameron Mason wide of the post.
With several denied penalty claims, including a controversial Lewis Knight foul being deemed as outside of the box despite disillusioned arguments from the home side. Tom Clare also clattered with Mason in goal but Shacklady opted for a Curzon Ashton free-kick.
Unfortunately after consecutive Park Avenue pressure, the away team broke with on-loan Rochdale striker Fabio Tavares, who clinically scored past Nicholson to clinch his first loanee goal. This secured the much needed three points and Curzon Ashton returned to Lancashire as victors.
It is beginning to become more clear that Avenue are doomed to relegation and that BPA will really need to rebuild a new squad, hopefully under Mark Bower, despite the recent upturn in results. Furthermore, Bradford Park Avenue have recently gained planning permission to build a new 3G surface which could help to rectify the financial situation at the club as well as help the club to rent out their facilities for much needed money.
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