National League North
Bradford (Park Avenue) 3-1 Harrogate Town
Action from Bradford (Park Avenue) 3-1 Harrogate Town. Picture: Craig Hurle
A week ago Bradford (Park Avenue) fans were worried about relegation. Now after two wins in less than seven days, the table looks a lot better.
Avenue sit eight points clear of the drop zone with games-in-hand on the teams around them and more performances like their latest one will ensure that there is no further panic attacks.
Darren Edmondson, in his first match in charge after the abandonment at Flyde on Saturday, could not have wished for a better start against their local rivals.
The game only went ahead thanks to phenomenal hard work and dedication from supporters who volunteered their time at the ground to clear standing water from the pitch.
After a fairly uneventful opening ten minutes, Avenue took the lead thanks to stunner from Chib Chilaka.
Liam Dickinson, making his debut since joining on loan from Guiseley, closed down Harrogate goalkeeper Peter Crook and forced a week clearance, which Chilaka chested down and volleyed excellently into the goal with the outside of his foot.
Defender Ryan Qualter doubled Avenue’s lead on 38 minutes with a fine header.
Avenue got their third in the dying minutes with a first goal for Bradford City loanee Dylan Mottley-Henry.
Fellow substitute Ben Gordon, making his debut, sent a ball over the top which Mottley-Henry raced onto and composed himself before calmly slotting into the bottom corner.
Brendan Daniels scored an injury-time consolation for Harrogate.
Bradford (Park Avenue): Stewart, Qualter, Mather (Gordon 82), Dean, Ainge (c), Thornton, King, Patterson, Chilaka (Mottley-Henry 80), Dickinson, R.Marhsall (Scott 86). Subs unused: Wilkinson, Webb-Foster
Harrogate Town: Crook, Colbeck, Warren (Swain 78), Thirlwell, Ellis (c), Foster, Thewlis, Burrell, Clayton, Platt (Gascoigne 61), Daniels. Subs unused: Emmett, McGurk, Stewart.