What the papers say!
(reports on Avenue games from abroad - usually a load
of tosh)
Bradford Park Avenue 0 Great Harwood Town 1
From the 'Blackburn Citizen' (provided by Martin Worthy - 06/04/99)
DENIS Underwood's in-form Harwood built on Saturday's victory over Lincoln (sic, should have been Hucknall!) with
a blend of attractive football and battling defence. Graeme Lightbown's 18th minute strike was enough to clinch
the points against a well-organised and physical Bradford Park Avenue outfit. But it is all likely to be too little
too late for battling Harwood, who remain off the pace in the UniBond battle to beat the drop. The deadlock was
broken when a stunning five-man move released Warren Peake for a run on the Bradford keeper. Peake was upended,
the keeper receiving a yellow card, but Lightbown was on hand to hammer home the loose ball. Mark Walsh replaced
hamstring injury victim Mark Henshaw after half an hour. Neil Baron and Peake both went close from goalmouth scramble's
as the visitors attempted to stretch the lead before half-time. Neil Kennedy was replaced after 63 minutes by Lee
Pennington after being kicked in the head during a brave clearance.
But Harwood stood firm and survived a succession of corners.
(Why do I always get the impression that these so called reporters
spent at least three hours in the pub before the match, and then watch it with beer gogggles on! - Boon)
Alfreton Town 2 Bradford Park Avenue 2
From the 'Derby Evening Telegraph' (provided by Martin Worthy -
13/04/99)
A point and some goals at last for Alfreton after four games without
scoring. But this draw was barely enough for the Reds as they battle against a second successive relegation. Ball
gave Bradford Park Avenue the lead after 31 minutes when Hey's cross left him with the simplest of chances. Four
minutes later Leon Wainman claimed the Reds' first goal in 400 minutes. He stooped to head in a loose ball after
keeper O'Connor had parried Mark Hopkinson's header from Ian Franks' free kick. Connor restored Avenue's lead six
minutes after the break, slotting the ball past Richard Harrison after reaching a left-wing cross. But Alfreton
refused to throw in the towel and Caine Cheetham and Wainman both went close. Alfreton were finally saved 14 minutes
from the end when Franks scored with a delightful chip over keeper O'Connor from the edge of the penalty area.
It was an ideal tonic for Franks who had returned to the Reds side after an injury lay-off.
No doubt many more of
these egotistical reports will appear on this page.
We wait with baited breath (yawn!)
(Well it's a laugh)
