Chris Hurst missed the game through injury whilst Phil Brown was given a run out at right full back in place of Chris Hilton and Mark Lafferty was rested to give Matt Wilkinson a start in the defence.

Bradford took the lead as early as the fifth minute with virtually the first attack of the match. Wayne Benn sent Andrew Wright away down the left and he cut the ball across to former Blues' striker Andy Hayward who turned and hit a low shot which skidded straight through Andy Carney's hands and into the net. Shortly afterwards Nicky Cranston looked to break from midfield but he was hacked down from behind by Mark Hancock who promptly went into the book. The Blues came close to an equaliser on 14 minutes when a corner from the left by Steve Price was headed back to him by a defender. He sent the ball back into the danger area and Avenue somehow managed to clear it off the line before a Blues' player could get a telling touch. The visitors ought to have increased their lead after 22 minutes when Andrew Quinn was left in space in the box but he dragged his 12 yard shot wide of the right hand post. At the other end a through ball saw Graham Lewis in a one on one situation with Paul Brown as Bradford pushed up looking for offside. Brown won the race to the ball, kicking clear but the ball fell to GARY DUFFTY on the right who hit a first time shot from 30 yards which just about managed to roll over the line to bring the Blues level. However, both the Bradford keeper and Duffty were forced to leave the field immediately afterwards, Brown due to an injury whilst Duffty was suffering from double vision. Steve Ball took over in goal for Avenue whilst new signing from Harrogate Town, Luke Smith replaced Duffty. Two minutes into first half injury time Lewis was again through on goal but he shot straight at Ball's legs but two minutes later Frickley took the lead. Price sent over a corner from the left and BRENDAN WEST headed in via the underside of the crossbar.

The second half saw the game rally come to life. On 51 minutes Rob Hanby sidestepped a defender on the edge of the box before blasting over but then Avenue's Hancock was sent off for a second yellow card following a bit of 'afters' with Cranston. From the resulting free-kick the ball dropped to DEAN JONES whose shot from 8 yards was deflected by a defender past the stranded Ball. Avenue reduced the arrears a few minutes later when Jason Maxwell beat Phil Brown down the left, cut into the box and fired an angled shot across Carney into the top right hand corner. Avenue forced a bit of pressure before the Blues broke with Cranston picking out Edge on the left side of the box. He fed Handy who again shot over from just outside the box. On 72 minutes Smith caused panic in the Avenue defence when he caused Ball to mis-kick a back pass but no-one could capitalise on the situation. Then Edge sent Lewis clear down the left. As he started to cut in towards goal Benn upended him just outside the box. Price's resulting free-kick was brilliantly tipped away for a corner. Then, out of nowhere came a bizarre equaliser for the visitors. A deep cross from the right into the box saw Hayward and Carney challenge for the ball and somehow the ball bounced into the empty net. Then on 80 minutes the impressive Cranston, who had already been booked, was sent off following an off-the-ball incident. Bradford came close to snatching a winner in the 87th minute when Calcutt got into the box from the right but Carney saved his shot and the follow-up was headed over the bar.

A much better performance, spoiled only by a couple of goalkeeping errors. The midfield battled well, although suffered a little when Hanby was forced to drop to right fullback following Brown's enforced substitution but we will do well to have a fully fir squad for Saturday following some of the tackles that went flying in from Avenue.

Frickley Athletic : Carney, Brown (McAreavey 73), West, Jones, Matt. Wilkinson (Lafferty 60), Hanby, Cranston, Price, Duffty (Smith 38), Lewis, Edge

Bradford Park Avenue : Paul Brown (Lindley 38), Verity, Marquis (Calcutt 19), Quinn, Wright, Thompson, Hancock, Benn, Hayward, Maxwell, Ball. Unused sub. James.