Pre-season friendly: Campion 1 Bradford Park Avenue 6

CLOSE-season signing Adam Boyes claimed his first goal for Bradford Park Avenue but it was Oli Johnson’s five-minute hat-trick that put the Vanarama National League North side in cruise control at neighbours Campion.

Avenue should have opened their pre-season with a trip to Albion Sports last Saturday but that friendly has been put back a fortnight.

That meant Campion were the first hosts for Mark Bower’s men as Avenue prepared for this weekend’s Bradford derby, with the Bantams making the short journey to Horsfall Stadium.

Avenue will be in good spirits for that game after romping to victory at Scotchman Road last night.

The home keeper made two fine saves early on to deny Nicky Clee and Boyes, but the damage was done midway through the first half.

Boyes ended a fluent move in the 15th minute with a neat lob to open the scoring after Johnson had played him in, but it was Johnson who stole the headlines as he rattled in three goals in quick time.

He doubled Avenue’s lead with a chip over the home keeper, slotted in another and then lashed one in from outside the area.

Bower made six changes at the interval and introduced three players from Avenue’s Academy just after the hour.

The Avenue boss wanted to give as many players game-time ahead of the clash with City as he could.

Ryan Toulson, Danny Boshell, Wayne Brooksby, Javan Vidal and two trialists all started the second half, while forward Andre Tavernier, keeper Alfie Steven-Neale and defender Lewis Johnson came on in a triple substitution in the 62nd minute.

James Bicknell’s Campion signalled their intent when they hit a post in the 77th minute, and Avenue failed to head the warning as Jason Davis netted a long-range strike minutes later to cut the deficit.

Avenue were not done either, and Wayne Brooksby made it 5-1 before one of the trailists added Avenue’s sixth in the penultimate minute.

Prior to yesterday’s opening friendly, Park Avenue announced that Matt Hill had agreed a new deal with the club as a players' coach.

The former Premier League defender will be part of Bower’s squad, be on the first-team’s backroom staff and will also remain a coach with Avenue’s Academy.

Albion, whose friendly with Avenue was rearranged due to work on the pitch at Throstle Nest, have announced a friendly against a Bradford City XI, with more details to follow.