Harrogate Town and Bradford Park Avenue have it all to do again on Monday, at the Horsfall Stadium,Bradford, after a goalless 3rd Qualifying Round F A Cup draw at Wetherby Road.
Avenue attacked first when Joe Leesley’s free kick was headed clear to Wayne Brooksby who made ground,but Ryan Fallowfield’s fine covering tackle snuffed out the danger.
Town retaliated with Jordan Thewlis firing at Steve Drench after Liam Agnew’s initial shot had been deflected to him.
Drench was soon in action again when he had to punch a Leesley free kick clear,while at the other end,James Belshaw did well to tip an Adam Boyes header from Nicky Wroe’s free kick over the bar.
Town were in the ascendancy with Terry Kennedy heading a Leesley corner wide and George Thomson forcing Drench to turn his low drive round the post after a cleverly worked free kick.
A Javan Vidal shot late in the half flashed over Town’s bar to prove that Avenue were still a danger.
After the break,Leesley made an early chance for Thomson when he got past Ryan Toulson on the left,but the winger skied well over.
With twentyfive minutes left,Avenue had a stroke of good fortune when Warren Burrell hooked a Drench punch out against the crossbar.
The final quarter saw the game take on a real cup tie atmosphere as both sides had chances to win.
Avenue’s, Wroe and Brooksby, both shot wide, while Kennedy’s last ditch tackle prevented Brooksby breaking the deadlock.
In the five minutes of added time,Town survived a goalmouth scramble,but hit back with Falkingham shooting well over the top and Burrell forcing Drench to save his header on the line.
Town,Belshaw,Fallowfield,Parker (c),Falkingham,Kennedy,Burrell,Thomson,Emmett (Vann 78),Leesley,Thewlis,Agnew (Burdett 73).
Unused subs,Cracknell,Middleton,Curry,O’Hanlon,Day. Booking Burrell.
Bradford P A,Drench,Ross,Kelly,Wroe (c),Havern,Toulson,Brooksby (Nicky Boshell 89),Danny Boshell,Boyes,Johnson(Clee 76),Vidal.
Unused subs,Spencer,Hall,Nowakowski,Knowles,Knight. Bookings,Wroe,Brooksby,Danny Boshell. Att.911
By John Harrison.
