Guiseley’s established Academy were too good for Avenue’s fledgling youngsters at Horsfall Stadium this evening as they embarked on another FA Youth Cup adventure courtesy of six goals to set up a home Preliminary Round clash with Rotherham based Swallownest, the game to be played week commencing 29 August 2022.
Having gone two goals ahead the home side halved the deficit straight after but a goal just before the break effectively killed the tie with the visitors adding three more after half-time despite the heroics of Avenue keeper Liam Hall who pulled of a string of impressive saves and without whom the winning margin would undoubtedly have been larger.
Guiseley were straight at it from the off with Bradley Wood and Kimarni Miller forcing Hall into two saves at full stretch before Miguel Valsau had the ball in the net on seven minutes only for the goal to be disallowed for an alleged handball in the build-up.
Avenue made a couple of forays without ever threatening Oliver Ford’s goal and the energetic Bradley Wood was unlucky to see his low shot cannon off the post before Oliwier Grzelak finally got the goal that the Lions play deserved as his shot took a deflection and lopped over Hall for the opener on 18 minutes.
Miller then doubled the visitors advantage just after the half hour with a piledriver that hit the bar and a post before nestling in the back of the net.
But Avenue weren’t dead and buried yet and pulled one back with a well taken header at the back post from a corner by Brandan Johnson a minute later.
However, any hopes that Park Avenue had of restoring parity were nearly snuffed out when Grzelak got on the end of Sam Walters cross only to blaze high and wide.
But the Lions would not be denied as Jack Mason finished off a move from close in right on the break to restore the visitors two goal cushion.
Three goals to the good and a with wealth of chances created in the first half, there was no let up in the second period as Wood bagged his second with a decisive finish nine minutes in and Mason also completed his brace when he added the fifth with well taken shot that went in off an upright.
The home side continued to keep Guiseley on their toes but it was keeper Hall who made several interventions to keep the scoreline respectable but even he was helpless when substitute Ryan Berry volleyed in an unstoppable thunderbolt that nearly took the goalframe into the adjoining cemetery on 72 minutes!
As a result of this comprehensive win the Young Lions now host Swallownest, who’s first team play in the Northern Counties East League Division One, at Nethermoor week commencing 29 August 2022. It’s also worth stating that tonight’s attendance was nineteen higher than when the first teams met in a pre-season game just over two weeks ago.
Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-6 Guiseley | Wednesday 17th August 2022 | Horsfall Stadium
Attendance: 211
Team: 1. Oliver Ford, 2. Sam Walters, 3. Charlie Eastwood, 4. Eddie Goodman, 5. Ricardo Grey, 6. Sam Appleyard, 7. Jack Mason, 8. Oliwier Grzelak, 9. Bradley Wood, 10. Miguel Valsau and 11. Kimarni Miller.
Subs: 12. Thomas Ingham, 14. John Hollis, 15. Oliver Storr, 17. Emre Altinors, 18. Ryan Berry