Hyde United 4-4 Bradford Park Avenue | Match Report

Hyde United and Bradford Park Avenue treated fans to an eight-goal preseason thriller on Saturday at Ewen Fields.

Photo credit: Don Goodwin

The hosts continued their preparations for the new Northern Premier League Premier Division season, with Dave McGurk’s side starting with a home game against Atherton Collieries on August 14.

Five goals in frantic first half

The visitors opened the scoring after five minutes with a trialist tucking past home keeper Joe Green, before new signing Tony Donaldson equalised for the home team with a right footed shot, assisted by Chinedu Uche.

Bradford regained the lead a couple of minutes later, as miscommunication between Green and Uche saw the defender head past his keeper into his own net.

A few minutes later, The Tigers equalised once more with the goal of the game from Harry Benns. His thumping 20-yard strike into the corner gave ‘keeper Jonny Saltner no chance.

With less than half an hour gone, teenage striker Rob Guilfoyle - a new signing from York City - put the away side back in the lead, after completing a mazy run past the majority of the home defence.

Tigers start quickly after break

Hyde began the second half in high tempo fashion, and Jordan Fagbola almost brought his team level, with his strong header cleared off the line by Matty Downing.

Donaldson was denied a second goal for offside after heading a perfectly placed cross into the box from Kingsley James.

The National League North side’s Adam Nowakowski took the game’s first yellow card after reacting badly to Tom Morris’ challenge on teammate Isaac Marriott.  The Park Avenue man had to be restrained, with Marriott down on the floor.

Marriott quickly recovered, and further endeared himself to the home fans by putting his side further into the lead five minutes later, neatly converting a Guilfoyle cross.

Photo credit: Don Goodwin

Captain Pratt leads fightback

In a game which always looked likely to end with more goals, Hyde captain Tom Pratt led by example and pulled his team back into the game.

Uche, who had been a danger down the right hand side all game, crossed into the box with Pratt able to tuck the ball home with 15 minutes left to play.

Hyde pulled level once more, and closed out the scoring through Pratt, who took advantage of  Avenue defender Jordan Windass’ delayed response to a long ball. The Hyde man judged the bounce perfectly and pocketed a second goal after lifting the ball over Saltmer.

Both sides pushed for a winner but were unable to net a deciding goal, with a raft of substitutes coming on in the closing minutes.

Mixed emotions for manager McGurk

Hyde manager McGurk said: “There were lots of positives today, but also lots of negatives, it was a crazy game. The goals we let in today were really soft, and we had to work hard to get back into the game and play some good football.

“The lads seemed a bit despondent at half time about the goals conceded, but in a way I’m happy they are happening now because I can really iron them out over the next few weeks. The intensity of the defending wasn’t there today, but we’ve limited them to four shots on goal which have all gone in. There’s no blame associated with Joe Green at all, I thought he looked solid.

“We wanted a game that replicated a league game, Bradford came with a good intensity, which we didn’t quite match in the first half.  In the second half we were on top of them and I think we were good value for at least the draw. They lost a bit of structure and flow with the substitutions, and we capitalised on that. We went into another gear after 60,70 minutes and got the goals that we deserved.”