Harriers move up to 2nd in the table

For the fourth game in a row the Harriers smashed three goals past their opponents when they came away from a resurgent Bradford Park Avenue this afternoon with a a first half treble giving them a resounding win by the end of the game.  The win also takes us up into second spot in the table on goal difference above Chorley who didn't have a game today.  That also loses us our game in hand.

With the team back to its usual format following the Trophy game last week when some players were rested in favour of those knocking at the door.  Keith Lowe, Arthur Gnahoua and Elton N'Gwatala started while the replacements Ash Carter, Sam Austin and Liam Truslove went back to the bench.

BPA have been on a little run of good results in recent weeks so we went there knowing that a lack of concentration could see us coming a cropper.  As it was we need not have worried when as early as the fourth minute Andre Brown put us into the lead with a tap in after Gnahoua had skipped past various defenders to play the ball through for him.  That was Andre's second goal in the last two games and will boost his confidence no end.

We went on looking for a second goal to establish our superiority but even with Tyrell Waite firing wide twice and James McQuilkin testing the keeper Jon Worsnop we couldn't build on the early lead.  Danny Boshell then had a shot go wide for the hosts just a minute after his brother Nick saw his shot blocked on the line.

From that glaring miss the Harriers then punished the home side in the best way possible.  The ball was played upfield for Gnahoua to run on to and take forward to the brink of the area and powered the ball goalwards and into the top corner of the net.  The type of goal that we have come to expect as routing by our twelve goal leading scorer.

We hadn't finished yet.

The Middlesborough based referee Matthew Dicicco sensibly played the advantage after McQuilkin was bought down with the ball rolling free to Ryan Croasdale who then played the in for Waite who then took a touch then whipped the ball home for the trio.

For the second half we seemed to be content to play the holding game knowing that it was won.  A dangerous game to play but we managed to see it out despite gifting them a consolation goal in the final quarter of the ninety minutes.

Very little happened of note apart from a curious decision by the ref who gave a free kick after Croasdale collided with Sam Hornby as the both went for a loose ball.  We had a few attempts at scoring with Bradford doing likewise and it wasn't until they bought on John Cofie for Nicky Boshell that they began to look anywhere near useful.

He tested Hornby with a crisp shot that he saved easily but with his next effort they pulled a goal back.  With the ball bouncing around inside the Harriers area no one managed to clear it to safety and it was lofted back in to Cofie who couldn't miss from such a close range.

We woke up to the threat that Bradford could possibly go on to get something from the game and began to attack their end once more.  Sam Austin, on earlier for Arthur Gnahoua tried his luck on the angle but the keeper pushed the ball away and then Ryan Croasdale tried his luck after a mis-kick by Jordan Tunnicliffe found him open on goal but his shot was again saved by the former Chester keeper, Worsnop.

The final minutes of the game were played out and at the final whistle the Harriers had moved up another place.  Only seven points behind a seemingly un-assailable Fylde but they have to begin dropping points at some stage and that's when we need to pounce.

 Goal for Bradford: Cofie 78
 Goals for Harriers: A Brown 4, Gnahoua 32, Waite 42

REFEREE:

Mr M Dicicco Middlesborough