Avenue Advance In FA Trophy With 3-1 Win At Witton Albion
September 9, 2024Bradford (Park Avenue) kicked off the Elliott era in style with a 3-1 victory over Witton Albion in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round.
Goals from Dan Francis, Paddy Sykes, and Kelan Swales saw Bradford advance to the next stage of the FA Trophy on Saturday as Craig Elliott took up the reigns.
Match Report: Witton Albion 1-3 Bradford (Park Avenue)
The game started with Bradford on the front foot, and they nearly took the lead in the 6th minute when Oli Norman drove into the box and sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but it narrowly trickled past the post. Avenue continued to threaten, and after a header from Paddy Sykes was saved in the 12th minute, they found the breakthrough in the 18th minute. A corner whipped into the box led to a shot from Connor Shanks which was deflected into the air, Dan Francis reacted quickest to volley home and give Bradford a deserved 1-0 lead.
Despite dominating the first half, Avenue were unable to extend their lead, with Sykes missing a one-on-one opportunity in the 34th minute and another effort from Shanks being ruled out for offside just before halftime.
Half-Time: Witton Albion 0-1 Bradford (Park Avenue)
Witton Albion came out fighting in the second half and quickly drew level in the 47th minute when a cross from the right found Harry McGee at the back post, and he headed the ball low into the net to make it 1-1. However, Bradford responded almost quickly. In the 57th minute, a corner from Harry Colville bounced off the back of Witton’s Wealth Dasilva and into the net, with the goal ultimately being credited to Paddy Sykes, restoring Avenue’s lead.
Bradford struck again the 72nd minute when Luke Hogg found Oli Norman on the left, and he squared the ball to substitute Kelan Swales, who turned and expertly finished into the bottom corner to seal the win.
Full-Time: Witton Albion 1-3 Bradford (Park Avenue)
Bradford now have a quick turn around before they travel to Ashington in the league on Tuesday night.
Attendance: 422
Goals: Dan Francis (18′), Harry McGee (47′), Paddy Sykes (57′), Kelan Swales (72′)
Teams
Witton Albion
Starting 11: 1 Danny Roberts (C), 2 Ewan McGeady, 3 Kyle King, 4 Owen Cushion, 5 Oliver Hitchcox, 6 Joel Bailey, 7 Wealth Dasilva, 8 Reece Daly, 9 James Salkeld, 10 Harry McGee, 11 Vani Da Silva
Subs: 12 Mike Koral, 14 James Lawrie, 15 Elliot Rokka, 16 Callum Grogan, 17 Eli Fisher
Bradford (Park Avenue)
Starting 11: 1 Craig Ellison, 2 Kareem Hassan-Smith, 3 Dan Francis, 4 Luke Hogg, 5 Alex Francis, 6 Ben Whelan, 7 Harry Colville, 8 Connor Dimaio (C), 9 Paddy Sykes, 10 Oli Norman, 11 Connor Shanks
Subs: 12 Theo Hudson, 13 Ed Hall, 14 Kelan Swales, 15 James Hanson, 16 Jak Whiting
