Bradford (Park Avenue) Top Northern Premier League East

October 10, 2026 Off By

Ten-man Avenue secure 2-1 win over Liversedge

Bradford (Park Avenue) moved to the summit of the Northern Premier League East Division after a 2-1 victory against local rivals Liversedge FC at Horsfall Community Stadium on Saturday, 10 October 2026. Despite being reduced to ten men late in the game, Avenue held on to secure the three points in challenging windy conditions.

Match Summary

The home side started strongly, taking the lead inside the opening minute. Robbie Fox was played through one-on-one with Liversedge goalkeeper Jordan Porter and calmly chipped the ball over him to give Bradford an early advantage.

Liversedge responded and gradually settled into the match. Their efforts paid off in the 26th minute when Finn Donovan delivered a dangerous cross from the left. Former Avenue striker Kelan Swales met the ball with a powerful header, beating Bradford goalkeeper Declan Lambton to level the score.

Bradford came close to regaining the lead shortly after, with Fox seeing a shot saved by Porter and then firing the rebound over the crossbar. However, Fox made no mistake in the 41st minute, finishing from close range after a headed pass from Scott Duxbury following a Luke Parkin free-kick.

Second Half and Sending Off

Playing into the strong wind after the break, Bradford found it difficult to clear their half for extended periods. Lambton made a notable save just before the hour mark, tipping an effort from Isaac Baldwin onto the crossbar.

Liversedge created further chances, including a low strike from Ryan Watson in the 65th minute that went wide. The match took a dramatic turn in the 83rd minute when Avenue centre-back Rudy Misambo, already booked, received a second yellow card for holding an opponent, reducing Bradford to ten men.

Following the dismissal, manager Craig Elliott adjusted the formation by deploying substitute Marcus Carver in a deeper role. Carver adapted well, winning key aerial duels to help maintain the lead.

Closing Stages and Outcome

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Bradford nearly extended their lead in added time when Bailey Thompson created space inside the box but sent his shot over the bar. The referee soon ended the match, confirming a hard-fought victory for Avenue.

The win extended Bradford (Park Avenue)’s unbeaten league run to 11 matches and placed them at the top of the Northern Premier League East Division, with games in hand over their promotion rivals.