Hall and O’Brien lead Horsfall goal spree (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Hall and O’Brien lead Horsfall goal spree

2:20pm Sunday 4th October 2009 in

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Bradford Park Avenue 5, Matlock Town 2

A comprehensive home win hauled Avenue halfway up the UniBond League Premier Division table and another home success against Burscough tomorrow night could lift them as high as seventh.

The Bradford side made light of difficult conditions at Horsfall Stadium to earn three points with a five-star display.

Matlock had to come to terms with the almost hurricane-strength wind just as much as the home side and both did well to produce a game of such quality.

Avenue boss Lee Sinnott said: “It’s windy up here at the best of times but this exceptional weather is countrywide at the moment, so we just had to get on with it and the players ensured they got the better of that and the opposition.

“To score five is good in any game and I don’t think their two goals took the gloss off it but it was disappointing that we didn’t keep a clean sheet.

“I spoke to the players and take their word for it that the conditions made defending very difficult. Fortunately the only real injury worry before tomorrow’s visit from Burscough is Chris Hall, who came off with a knee injury.”

Matlock began well and had the hosts on the back foot for most of the opening quarter hour. Avenue then got into their stride, worked the visiting keeper and deserved their 2-0 interval lead.

They broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark after forcing a corner. Luke Gibson delivered the kick to the near post and Town left back Scott Brough headed past his own keeper under pressure from Hall.

Hall added the second himself in the last minute of the first half. Another Gibson cross whizzed through the area and Simon Baldry chased it down to keep it in play before putting the ball back into the box for Hall to head home.

After ending the first half with a goal, the big striker began the second with one as it took Avenue just 38 seconds to add a third. An intelligent through ball by Chris Stabb picked out Hall just inside the area and he fired in a superb first-time volley.

Town cut the deficit in the 54th minute following a crisp passing move which ended with skipper Steve Warne slipping the offside trap and stroking a shot past stranded Avenue keeper Steve Dickinson.

But any thoughts of a comeback by the visitors were left in tatters by a brace from midfielder Rob O’Brien, his first goals for Avenue.

A deflected shot by Hall clipped the bar on its way over for a corner. O’Brien took the set-piece which was only half cleared back to him, he dummied a defender and rifled in an angled shot.

Town striker Ross Hannah pulled one back with a low shot into the corner after breaking through the middle. But Avenue turned it into a nap hand when O’Brien netted a thunderous shot from distance two minutes from time.