Taking a look at County v Bradford Park Avenue

WELCOME BACK

It's been a while since fans had a chance to watch their team at EP, although between 1,300 and 1,600 - depending on which attendance figure was correct - took advantage of last Saturday's first trip to Curzon Ashton to get a game in. There has been a turnover of players in the intervening period - although it has also given chance for some injured players to get fitter. County are still without Glenn Rules of course, and will have to do so for four more games.

PAST MEETINGS

Saturday's opponents are a bit of an odd team as far as football historians are concerned. They have generally maintained that they are a continuation of the former Football League side, despite a three year gap between that club folding in 1974 and the current club being formed. For my part, I'll cover matches between the clubs since 1977. The first visit came on Boxing Day 2013 when County entertained the holiday crowd with a 4-1 victory. Last time out also provided one of the better victories of the season, as County scored three goals in an early season game. Links to All Things Stockport County reports are included below. The full list if games against BPA will be in Saturday's programme.

2013-14 26 Dec 4-1 [All Things Stockport County report]
2014-15 23 Aug 3-1 [All Things Stockport County report]
County score given first, all National League North

CURRENT FORM

Avenue went out of the FA Cup on Wednesday of last week, suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Salford City. In the League they have been in the bottom half of the table all season, although, like last weekend's opponents, they are on a reasonable recent run. The Yorkshire side have gone five games unbeaten, although only one of those matches, a 0-0 draw at Tamworth, was played away from home. During this run, goals have been hard to come by, very much in contrast to the 4-4 draw with North Ferriby at the and of August, by with both their victories being by 1-0. The visitors will be looking for only their third away point of the season.

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Lamin Colley will be facing his former club, if selected. Lamin played 23 times for the Horsfall Stadium side last season after joining them for Harrogate Railway Athletic.


Colley bears down on Curzon Ashton.

 As Lamin moved out....... a former County loanee, Danny Schofield, joined Avenue. Danny was with County on a loan deal a couple of years ago. The 35-year-old midfielder started his senior career with 11 seasons at Huddersfield., By the time he had his 5 game spell with the Hatters he was on the books of League 2 Rotherham United. He moved to Avenue from FC Halifax Town.

VISITOR'S SQUAD

Like County, Bradford have been shipping a few men out this month, mostly on loan or dual contract arrangements. Amongst those departing is former County man Danny Hall, who returned to his parent club Guiseley, and ex-trialist Paul Marshall, now with Ashton United on a temporary contract. Having cleared a few men out it seems likely Bradford will be looking to bring in some new faces as their squad now looks a little thin on the ground.


NameApp.GlsPosKnown Past Clubs (may not be complete)
Jon Stewart 14+0..0 G Swindon T, Weymouth, Portsmouth, AFC Bournemouth, Burnley, Alfreton T(L), Alfreton T(L), Worksop T, Alfreton T
Simon Ainge 15+0..0 FB Bradford C, Halifax T(L), Cambridge U(L), Bradford PA, Guiseley(L), Guiseley, Luton T(L), Luton T, FC Halifax T
Adam Mather 15+0..0 LB/LW New Mills, Woodley Sp, Curzon Ashton, Mossley, Chorley
Tom Burgin 4+3..0 CD Rotherham U, Sheffield FC, Buxton, SollefteÃ¥ GIF [swe], Sheffield FC, Worksop, Scarborough Ath, Belper T, Worksop T
Jamie Price 0+0..0 D Leeds U, Doncaster Rov, York C, Harrogate T, Bradford PA, Garforth T, Ossett T
Alex Pursehouse 4+0..0 D Tranmere Rov, Kilmarnock, Brechin C, Worksop T
Jake Scott 0+0..0 D/M Barnsley, Worksop T(L), Guiseley(L), Worksop T
Luke Dean 12+0..1 M Bradford C, Halifax T(L), Ossett T(L), Hinckley U(L), Harrogate T(L), Harrogate T(L), Harrogate T, Buxton, Workington, Harrogate T, Harrogate RA(L), Bradford PA(L)
Michael Potts 7+1..3 M Manchester U, Blackburn Rov, York C, Guiseley, AFC Fylde, Stalybridge Cel(L)
Danny Schofield 10+3..0 M Brodsworth MW, Huddersfield T, Yeovil T, Millwall(L), Millwall, Rotherham U, Accrington S(L), COUNTY (L), FC Halifax T
Jason StJuste 8+0..0 M Garforth T, Darlington, Southampton, Garforth T, Sandes [nor], Garforth T, Chester(L), FC Halifax T, Bradford PA, Whitehawk, Farsley, North Ferriby U, AFC Fylde
Nathan Turner 11+0..0 M Leeds U, Chester(L), Chester(L)
Seb Carole 1+1..0 W Guiseley, Harrogate RA, Pink Perils FC
Connor Hughes 1+0..0 W Oldham Ath, Hyde U, FC Halifax T
Chub Chilaka 11+2..6 F Rushden & D, Notts Co, Hinckley U(L), Bridlington T, Leeds Carnegie, Bradford C, Bradford PA(L), Harrogate T(L), Braintree T, Harrogate T
Craig King 13+2..0 F Leicester C, Hereford U(L), Northampton T(L), AFC Telford U, Worksop T, Buxton
Richard Marshall 9+4..4 F Harrogate T, Harrogate RA, FC Halifax T
James Walshaw 6+3..2 F Ossett T, Bradford PA, Farsley Cel, Wakefield, Guiseley, Darlington, FC Halifax T(L), Guiseley, Altrincham, Harrogate T




NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH

With the final qualifying round of the FA Cup taking place on Saturday, which will determine the fate of the Hatters next scheduled home game versus Chorley. The list of games in the League has been fairly heavily pruned. In the five games being played, three of the teams closest to County in the table are in action. The other fixtures are AFC Telford U v Boston U, Corby T v Curzon Ashton, Hednesford Town v Nuneaton T, Lowestoft T v Tamworth. The current positions of teams potentially affected by how County get on against Bradford are shown below.


Home Away PT
Pos Pl W D L F A W D L F A GD Pt
3 Harrogate T 13 3 2 1 10 9 5 0 2 10 4 7 26
4 Nuneaton T 13 3 2 2 9 8 4 1 1 9 4 6 24
5 COUNTY 13 2 3 1 5 6 4 2 1 8 5 2 23
6 North Ferriby U 13 4 3 0 15 2 1 4 1 13 12 14 22
7 Boston U 14 4 1 3 9 12 3 0 3 12 10 -1 22
8 Tamworth 13 2 4 0 6 4 2 4 1 8 7 3 20




YOUTH TEAM WIN AGAIN

Thursday's Academy game saw the youngsters record a 3-1 victory over Chorley. Another solid performance as the lads learn their football under Alan Lord. It leaves the Under-18 side with a 100% record in the Floodlit League. As for the reserves, they are due in action tonight (Thursday). They play an away game against Hyde United, a 4th v 5th place clash. The game IS NOT due to be played in Hyde. According to the Lancashire League site, just like last season, the venue is as Abbey Hey's ground in Gorton. If you are interested in heading down there the address is Goredale Avenue, Gorton, M18 7HD.

Finally, a quick note of congratulations to George West on making the first team bench last Saturday. A fitting reward for his scoring record this season at reserve team level.

Ian Watts

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