Avenue edge derby honours in Horsfall friendly

9:33pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in Bantams Photograph of the Author By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Avenue duo Rob O'Brien and Richard Marshall celebrate a goal Avenue duo Rob O'Brien and Richard Marshall celebrate a goal


Park Avenue 3, City 1

Spectacular first-half goals from Rob O’Brien and Matty James helped Park Avenue to victory in tonight’s Tom Banks Memorial match.

City boss Phil Parkinson included four trialists in Marc Gallego, Jack Mills, Gavin Hoolahan and an unnamed winger, who impressed before being replaced in the 66th minute.

Goalkeeper Matt Duke and summer signings Garry Thompson and Alan Connell similarly started the match but Avenue ran out worthy victors.

O’Brien fired them ahead in the 17th minute before City levelled six minutes later when the unnamed trialist was felled and Thompson rifled home from the penalty spot.

Yet Avenue regained the lead when Alex Davidson, who created O’Brien’s opener, flighted in another teasing cross which James dispatched in style with a fine volley.

City substitute Adam Baker went clean through in the final quarter of the match but fired straight at Avenue goalkeeper Tim Deasey.

And moments later Avenue sealed victory when the highly-rated Jordan Deacey showed some nimble footwork before drilling home a shot past Duke.
 

Comments(34)

Scoular's left boot says...
9:40pm Tue 7 Aug 12

Well done to the Avenue, Bradford's no.1 football team. Up the Avenue, back into the football league !!

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JamesRobertshaw says...
9:42pm Tue 7 Aug 12

disappointing with out a doubt, people say it was a team of trailist meaning it was a team trying to prove something to Phil. Should win but its not the end of the world

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trueBradfordian says...
9:51pm Tue 7 Aug 12

Good performance by the Avenue. Disappointed that City didn't take it more seriously.

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bank top bantam says...
10:11pm Tue 7 Aug 12

after tonights win against a team of kids and trailists avenue have arranged a open top bus parade around bradford city centre to celebrate and have asked as many of there 300 supporters to attend as possible

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
10:46pm Tue 7 Aug 12

Hope a few quid was raised for a local club and they kick on and have a successful season.

For City now the real stuff begins, the last few games were nothing but run outs for those of you who might get to carried away with things, you know who you are ;)

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Banjaxed says...
10:59pm Tue 7 Aug 12

Who was The Mystery Triallist?! Although he was a bit on the small side, he had a bit about him... Worth a punt, Parky? Even the official club website doesn't have the poor kids name, describing him in their running commentary match report as A Trialist... Mind you, he could be French - Arthur Trialist?

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Flabbermouth says...
11:09pm Tue 7 Aug 12

Poor old city after the hype to flog season tickets and world class signings. Pity the deluded supporters more

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Scoular's left boot says...
11:25pm Tue 7 Aug 12

to bank top bantam: city might be grateful for 300 odd supporters if they don't buck their ideas up for this forthcoming season.

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Danstarr69 says...
11:45pm Tue 7 Aug 12

For the complainers who didn't actually go to the game. It was the youths and a couple of trialists vs BPA. Our left side was excellent, and BPA's left side was excellent too. BPA started off better but we finished the game better. Both teams had loads of chances in an end-to-end game. It could've finished 6-6. The trialist right back cost us the 1st 2 goals because he's attack minded and kept shooting up the wing and was slow tracking back. The 3rd was a counter attack straight after a city shot was saved. BPA played some nice stuff today but so did we. BPA's keeper made a couple of double saves to keep them in it. Our best player had to be the number 4, otherwise known as A Trialist, sign him up Parky as back up for left wing. Looked like Lloyd Sam to me seen as he's only 5ft 8ins. Fast, quick and skillful, just like Reid.

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benjibullll says...
11:54pm Tue 7 Aug 12

shut your mouth bank top plank of wood city relagation favourites 4 last 3 years

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Rambo says...
12:09am Wed 8 Aug 12

In all seriousness that was an insult to BCFC to call that team Bradford City. It should have been called a Bradford City XI. Three of the main squad started, and it could well be none of them start the first 2 competitive games.

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Danstarr69 says...
12:26am Wed 8 Aug 12

Danstarr69 wrote:
For the complainers who didn't actually go to the game. It was the youths and a couple of trialists vs BPA. Our left side was excellent, and BPA's left side was excellent too. BPA started off better but we finished the game better. Both teams had loads of chances in an end-to-end game. It could've finished 6-6. The trialist right back cost us the 1st 2 goals because he's attack minded and kept shooting up the wing and was slow tracking back. The 3rd was a counter attack straight after a city shot was saved. BPA played some nice stuff today but so did we. BPA's keeper made a couple of double saves to keep them in it. Our best player had to be the number 4, otherwise known as A Trialist, sign him up Parky as back up for left wing. Looked like Lloyd Sam to me seen as he's only 5ft 8ins. Fast, quick and skillful, just like Reid.
Number 11 not 4

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arhmen aleg says...
12:31am Wed 8 Aug 12

Well done The Avenue.
Trialists and fringers matters not.

The book will always say Bradford Park Avenue 3 Bradford City 1.

In fact that reads and looks so well in print I think I"ll type it again.
Bradford Park Avenue 3 Bradford City 1.
Takes me back to days of errant youthood and a 7-2 thrashing mid sixties.

Hector scored 5 that night bank top and Avenue were always the better club.
Then it all went wrong like it has for you.

Were catching and its a long way from the prem league now.

From one who hopes for good for both Bradford clubs (as any true self respecting Bradfordian)I would be pleased to offer bank top a job.

you can drive t"bus.
But theres no point in going via BD1 cos theres nobody there.

Good luck to City as they seek to recover their confidence after traumatic ten years.

Were carching.
My stop bank top

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LuvFootball says...
12:31am Wed 8 Aug 12

Banjaxed wrote:
Who was The Mystery Triallist?! Although he was a bit on the small side, he had a bit about him... Worth a punt, Parky? Even the official club website doesn't have the poor kids name, describing him in their running commentary match report as A Trialist... Mind you, he could be French - Arthur Trialist?
The trialists were

Zavon Hines - played for both West Ham and Burnley and been out on loan to Coventry and Bournemouth

Gavin Hoolahan - sorry no idea who this guy is.

Marc Gallego last season played in the 2nd division in Germany for FSV Frankfurt

Jack Mills who I believe drove the train when it got robbed in the great train robbery.

Which 1 is it you are referring to?

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rio8uk says...
12:34am Wed 8 Aug 12

The name of the trialist is Zavon Hines and hes a free agent after being released by Burnley at the end of last season.He looked to be the best player on the pitch tonight.He looked more interested than the rest of the city players.Good luck to the kid and i hope we sign him.

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Banjaxed says...
12:38am Wed 8 Aug 12

rio8uk wrote:
The name of the trialist is Zavon Hines and hes a free agent after being released by Burnley at the end of last season.He looked to be the best player on the pitch tonight.He looked more interested than the rest of the city players.Good luck to the kid and i hope we sign him.
Cheers... That's the one! Get him on the books, Parky...

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parader no1 says...
6:55am Wed 8 Aug 12

I thought both teams played good football at times. Well deserved Avenue, as above I would have like to see City take it more seriously even with an important game on saturday

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i miss stallard & murray says...
7:23am Wed 8 Aug 12

Friendly or no friendly the style of football that city played last nite was awful. Even tho youth and trialists the club shud have a good footballing ethos. Park ave deserved to win they played some good football and looked better. They retained possession went backwards played it on the floor to feet. Sadly city played very direct and wasted possession and often played passes that the receiving player struggled to control. This will be our down fall. The right back and duke were very poor. One positive was our left side.

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bantamcougar says...
7:39am Wed 8 Aug 12

Think people need to calm down, it was always going to be that way once the Notts County game was brought forward, now that does matter, reserve judgment till after that game, I'd even forgotten we were playing Avenue.

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
7:57am Wed 8 Aug 12

i miss stallard & murray wrote:
Friendly or no friendly the style of football that city played last nite was awful. Even tho youth and trialists the club shud have a good footballing ethos. Park ave deserved to win they played some good football and looked better. They retained possession went backwards played it on the floor to feet. Sadly city played very direct and wasted possession and often played passes that the receiving player struggled to control. This will be our down fall. The right back and duke were very poor. One positive was our left side.
You sir are one of the people Lawn appears to be gunning for.

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CheltCityFan says...
8:43am Wed 8 Aug 12

I didn't get to the match tonight as 200 miles away so no idea how it was played. However, I hope that it raised money to help Avenue this season and I hope that they continue to progress. I remember the days of the derby games as my elder brother was an Avenue fan - I for some reason always favoured the underdog and City were very much the underdog in those days. Avenue were above City almost every season when I watched and it was a shame when they went out of business. When you think about what some clubs have been through in recent years, such as Portsmouth - even Leeds and the Bulls (and City), losing millions of pounds time and again and being saved after writing off millions of creditors' money - it's criminal that Avenue went out owing so little. I'm not interested in petty rivalry and sincerely hope that Avenue continue to move forwards and eventually get back into the League. I saw plenty of games at Avenue as a very young boy even though I was a City fan as I lived near Avenue and couldn't get to City by myself until I was a few years older, and was there when Fryatt scored his 4 second goal. After what's happened to them and how they have fought to pull themselves back from such depths, in my mind they would deserve it if they got back. Good luck to the Avenue for the season and hope that City can show some of the guts and fight that Avenue have done and finally fulfil their potential.

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Craig says...
8:47am Wed 8 Aug 12

Good grief, can some people get a perspective on this game - Avenue and City supporters.

*
This was a City squad full of trialists and kids. Literally, barring one or two first teamers who haven't had a full pre-season, Gary Thompson being the most obvious.

*
Given the make up of the team, I think it would be safe to say that not many in the City team were at full fitness or au fait with City's system for the season ahead. I also doubt very much that players that are still on trial at this stage of pre-season are anywhere near as fit as the majority of our first team who have done the full programme and been on the tour - none of whom played last night.

*
Well done to the Avenue, from having read the reports of your pre-season on this site, that was what, your 8th or 9th pre-season game, and it showed. You were clearly the fitter, more cohesive unit all in all, but I think the reasons for that were fairly obvious.

*
As for the obnoxiousness and arrogance of both Avenue and City fans that have posted here thus far - get a grip. To the City fans, let's not have the panic - this was a City XI and by no means even close to resembling the team that will start the season Saturday.

*
To the Avenue fans, the same applies, this was a City XI sent to help put some funds in your coffers - if you can do without the dough you might want to get on to Mr Blackburn et al and let them know.

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Freddy says...
8:59am Wed 8 Aug 12

*
Don't forget City are to play a serious 'Cup' Match on Saturday. 'Parky' was at Forest last Night to look at N.Cty. ,before Saturday.
*
Therefore it was -A Bfd. City 11--for those reasons- also, to try and assist -Avenue ' financially.
*

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ianbd6 says...
12:43pm Wed 8 Aug 12

lets get it right city fielded 11 full time players and avenue 11 part time players so the city players should have been as fit if not fitter than those of the avenue. that said it was a good work out for both clubs i don't think any of the trialists will have caught parkys eye (perhaps the left winger )but the few first teamers have another 90 minutes under there belts.as for avenue they played well against better opposition than previously in pre-season so i am sure both managers will be pleased with the game.as for finance i think the gate money is shared so much needed funds raised for both clubs.all the best to both clubs for the coming season and hopefully we will meet in the fa cup.

ian

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ianbd6 says...
12:43pm Wed 8 Aug 12

lets get it right city fielded 11 full time players and avenue 11 part time players so the city players should have been as fit if not fitter than those of the avenue. that said it was a good work out for both clubs i don't think any of the trialists will have caught parkys eye (perhaps the left winger )but the few first teamers have another 90 minutes under there belts.as for avenue they played well against better opposition than previously in pre-season so i am sure both managers will be pleased with the game.as for finance i think the gate money is shared so much needed funds raised for both clubs.all the best to both clubs for the coming season and hopefully we will meet in the fa cup.

ian

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i miss stallard & murray says...
1:19pm Wed 8 Aug 12

Thee Voice of Reason wrote:
i miss stallard & murray wrote: Friendly or no friendly the style of football that city played last nite was awful. Even tho youth and trialists the club shud have a good footballing ethos. Park ave deserved to win they played some good football and looked better. They retained possession went backwards played it on the floor to feet. Sadly city played very direct and wasted possession and often played passes that the receiving player struggled to control. This will be our down fall. The right back and duke were very poor. One positive was our left side.
You sir are one of the people Lawn appears to be gunning for.
I have a feeling Mark Lawn will have agreed with having watched the game yesterday.
We have a decent squad that Mark has backed,we now need to produce the football on the park.

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Babbsy says...
1:40pm Wed 8 Aug 12

Good luck to Avenue for the new season from a City fan - It's great to have seen their re-emergence over the past few seasons. Hopefully in a few more short years we'll be able to share a genuine Bradford derby that really means something.Back to City and I'm certainly not panicking about our prospects - I feel confident that this is the best squad on paper, interms of ability that we've had since re-entering League 2. Now it's all up to Parky to get the rest right....

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mickyoi says...
2:51pm Wed 8 Aug 12

Freddy wrote:
*
Don't forget City are to play a serious 'Cup' Match on Saturday. 'Parky' was at Forest last Night to look at N.Cty. ,before Saturday.
*
Therefore it was -A Bfd. City 11--for those reasons- also, to try and assist -Avenue ' financially.
*
Parky was at avenue last night. Parkin was at notts county.

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Danstarr69 says...
2:58pm Wed 8 Aug 12

ianbd6 wrote:
lets get it right city fielded 11 full time players and avenue 11 part time players so the city players should have been as fit if not fitter than those of the avenue. that said it was a good work out for both clubs i don't think any of the trialists will have caught parkys eye (perhaps the left winger )but the few first teamers have another 90 minutes under there belts.as for avenue they played well against better opposition than previously in pre-season so i am sure both managers will be pleased with the game.as for finance i think the gate money is shared so much needed funds raised for both clubs.all the best to both clubs for the coming season and hopefully we will meet in the fa cup. ian
Not really seen as none of the youths/reserves who played last night have pro contracts. They have part time jobs too. Only 4 of the 15 players last night were part of the 1st team squad.

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Danstarr69 says...
3:00pm Wed 8 Aug 12

ianbd6 wrote:
lets get it right city fielded 11 full time players and avenue 11 part time players so the city players should have been as fit if not fitter than those of the avenue. that said it was a good work out for both clubs i don't think any of the trialists will have caught parkys eye (perhaps the left winger )but the few first teamers have another 90 minutes under there belts.as for avenue they played well against better opposition than previously in pre-season so i am sure both managers will be pleased with the game.as for finance i think the gate money is shared so much needed funds raised for both clubs.all the best to both clubs for the coming season and hopefully we will meet in the fa cup. ian
Not really seen as none of the youths/reserves who played last night have pro contracts. They have part time jobs too. Only 4 of the 15 players last night were part of the 1st team squad.

Report this post »

Danstarr69 says...
3:02pm Wed 8 Aug 12

ianbd6 wrote:
lets get it right city fielded 11 full time players and avenue 11 part time players so the city players should have been as fit if not fitter than those of the avenue. that said it was a good work out for both clubs i don't think any of the trialists will have caught parkys eye (perhaps the left winger )but the few first teamers have another 90 minutes under there belts.as for avenue they played well against better opposition than previously in pre-season so i am sure both managers will be pleased with the game.as for finance i think the gate money is shared so much needed funds raised for both clubs.all the best to both clubs for the coming season and hopefully we will meet in the fa cup. ian
Not really seen as none of the youths/reserves who played last night have pro contracts. They have part time jobs too. Only 4 of the 15 players last night were part of the 1st team squad.

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hardy43 says...
6:53pm Wed 8 Aug 12

Good luck to Avenue for this season, but i don't think we will meet each other in't cup as City don't enter until 1st round on account of being a League club! Also i would wager we wont meet each other in a league match for at least a Decade, if ever!

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Scoular's left boot says...
8:41pm Wed 8 Aug 12

hardy43, don't be too sure about that.

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arhmen aleg says...
11:51pm Wed 8 Aug 12

hardy43 were on the upward march.

Lets hope City can stop their downward spiral.

5 years maybe.

Hope all City fans liked the place.

Volunteers have worked wonders to create a decent home

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