The hosts took a deserved lead as Brad Jackson’s deep cross was nodded home by striker George Waring. The Blues extended their advantage with goals from Anthony Dudley and Will Goodwin before a consolation effort from Lewis Knight but the Avenue’s Wembley dream is over for another year.

The home side started the better team, switching the play to both flanks and looking for Waring and Goodwin to get the better of the Bradford defence, but they dealt well with the early pressure.

The away side could’ve broke the deadlock, making the most of a sloppy pass from left-back Jamie Morgan. Knight was the quickest to react and he saw his  shot fumbled by goalkeeper Louis Gray. From the rebound, Matty Downing was alert to try and score but he was denied by an excellent block from defender Kevin Roberts.

The men in blue and white started to increase the tempo and were rewarded with the opening goal. Jackson had time to take a touch and deliver a teasing cross for Waring at the far post. The striker found the bottom corner from 12 yards.

After the break, the momentum remained with the home side. After seeing a cross from Downing go just over Knight’s head, the Blues went on the counter attack. Anthony Dudley turned onto his right foot before being fouled by Luke Lyons inside the box. Referee Darren Rogers blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. Dudley got back to his feet and sent Avenue debutant goalkeeper Will Huffer the wrong way.

A number of substitutions saw the game lose its intensity but the home side looked comfortable with a two-goal lead and the Avenue struggling having already lost Jordan Windass and captain Luca Havern to injury to add to a growing list.

The Avenue introduced Tabish Hussain late in the second half and the winger made an impact on the right wing. But, unfortunately, his deliveries into the box were either cleared or unable to be converted by the Avenue strikers.

With only a couple of minutes left, a long ball towards Goodwin was headed back by Lyons, but it fell short of Huffer’s feet. The young Chester FC striker took the ball around the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into an unguarded net from 14 yards.

Into added time, Bradford scored a consolation as Hussain managed to squeeze a low cross into the penalty area and Knight was there to tap the ball past Gray from close range.

Chester FC: Gray, Roberts, Morgan, Weeks (Burke 79), Lacey, Grand, Jackson (Elliott 85), Clark, Goodwin, Waring (Marsh-Hughes 63), Dudley

Subs not used: Livesey, Glendon, Johnston, Bauress

Goals: Waring (21), Dudley (pen, 52), Goodwin (88)

Bradford (Park Avenue): Huffer, Ross, Boyes, L.Lyons, Havern (Hussain 60), Windass (Clee 45), Booty (J.Lyons 77), Hibbs, Dockerty, Knight, Downing

Sub not used: Atkinson

Goal: Knight (90)

The Brakes led at half-time, thanks to an early goal from Sam Osbourne and then, with additional time announced, Simeon Maye found the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Bradford reduced the lead with a Brad Dockerty goal, but, two minutes later, the away side restored their two-goal cushion with an excellent Osbourne strike from 20 yards

After a quiet opening period, the visitors broke the deadlock. As Avenue goalkeeper Dan Atkinson rushed out of his goal, Osbourne was calm and composed as he took the ball around him and slotted the ball into an unguarded net from 14 yards.

Osbourne, who continued to cause problems for the Bradford defence, nearly scored his second of the afternoon. After receiving the ball from Jack Edwards, the winger’s drilled shot was well blocked by left-back Harry Boyes inside the box.

Then, the hosts should’ve equalised from a corner. A deep, inswinging delivery from Nicky Clee found Jake Hibbs, but he couldn’t connect properly and scuffed his shot wide from close range.

With the additional time shown on the touchline, Paul Holleran’s side doubled their advantage. Another flick from Edwards, after hesitation in the Avenue defence found Maye, who was unmarked. The midfielder took a few touches and fired a right-footed effort past Atkinson from 12 yards.

After the break, and with the introduction of debutant Regan Booty, Bradford started to push men forward.

After a well-worked move involving Booty and Boyes, Knight curled over a right-footed effort from 20 yards. But it was more positive, drawing an applause from the Avenue dugout.

Then, they deservedly halved the deficit. Despite earlier missing a one-on-one chance, Knight spotted the run of Brad Dockerty through the centre of the pitch. With Weaver to beat, the winger calmly slotted the ball into the net to give the Avenue hope.

But that hope was quickly extinguished as the Brakes scored a wonderful third goal. A corner was cleared away and after excellent play from Lance Smith to turn and keep the ball in play, the striker found Osbourne. The winger sprinted towards goal and fired an unstoppable right-footed strike, from 20 yards, into the top corner.

The Brakes produced a stubborn defensive display to deny Bradford a way back into the game and the evening got worse for the hosts. With a minute left to play, Hibbs was aggressive in a challenge and referee John Mulligan rushed to his pocket for a red card and dismissed the midfielder to add to a miserable afternoon for Bradford.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Atkinson, Ross, Boyes, L.Lyons Havern, Windass (Hussain 77), Sanyang (Booty 45), Hibbs, Dockerty, Knight, Clee.

Subs not used: Downing, Huffer

Goal: Dockerty (69)

Red card: Hibbs

Leamington FC: Weaver, Martin, Morley, Clarke, Morrison, Lane, Osbourne (Meredith 85), Maye (Waldron 90), Smith, Edwards, Allen (Anderson 81)

Subs not used: English, Taylor 

Yellow card: Clarke

Goals: Osbourne (9), (71), Maye (45)

In a high-quality first-half, Bradford took an early lead thanks to Brad Dockerty. But the Coasters replied with two goals from Ben Tollitt and Kurt Willoughby. Against the run of play, the visitors equalised as Knight nodded home from close range. After the restart, the hosts took the lead for the second time as Luke Byrne’s cross was tapped home by Luke Conlan. But, into the second minute of additional time, Omar Sanyang picked out Jordan Windass and his cross was smashed into the far corner by Knight.

Despite an early surprise, as the sprinklers started spraying water in the middle of play, the visitors took an early lead. Dockerty cut inside onto his right foot and curled a lovely effort past Chris Neal from the edge of the box. The linesman raised his flag for offside but the referee gave the goal.

After the first goal, the Coasters dominated play with some excellent football and were rewarded with an equaliser.  Tollitt, who caused problems for his opponents all night, curled a right-footed effort past Atkinson from 20 yards.

Two minutes later, the hosts scored again. Striker Kurt Willoughby found space outside the box and fired a right-footed strike into the bottom corner past an outstretched Atkinson.

In the lead and extremely confident with the ball, Nick Chadwick’s side looked like a team who hadn’t lost at home this season. Working it from back to front, side to side, they oozed class. But Bradford stayed in the game, and against the run of play, levelled the score.

Harry Boyes, producing another mature display, received the ball on the left wing, and the left-back fizzed a cross into the box. Knight curved his run in front of defender Jack Sanders, and the striker glanced a header past Neal into the bottom corner.

The action didn’t stop there. 

After a muscular injury to Isaac Marriott, the Avenue continued to attack as Dockerty, who was in fine form all evening, intercepted a loose pass and threaded a through-ball to Knight. The striker managed to get ahead of defender Alex Whitmore, but his shot was saved at the near post by Neal.

The Coasters went down the other end of the pitch to create an opportunity. Right-back Byrne picked out striker Jordan Hulme in the penalty area, but the former Altrincham man headed the ball straight at Atkinson from ten yards.

Just before the half-time whistle, them Bradford nearly took the lead again. A deep cross was flicked by captain Luca Havern into the path of Boyes, and the left-back tried his luck from distance, but his effort was saved by Neal.

After the break, the Avenue were hanging on as the Coasters pushed men forward to take the advantage.

A corner from Luke Brennan was met by Sanders, and with his header flying towards the top corner, Dockerty jumped to head the ball off the line. 

Seconds later, the hosts created a three-on-two situation as Hulme pulled the ball back to Tollitt. The winger, rather than taking a touch, struck a first time effort over the bar from 20 yards.

Once more, Bradford were getting lucky to avoid conceding a fourth. Brennan’s corner picked out Whitmore and the captain’s header ricocheted off the post and a couple of bodies, somehow not finding the net.

Eventually, the pressure was too much for the Avenue as AFC Fylde regained the lead. Byrne and Brennan linked up well and the right-back got behind Dockerty to drill a low cross into the box. His teammate Conlan was there tap home from close range.

Just like Spennymoor, the away side nearly hit back with an instant reply. Dockerty showed character to bounce back from the goal and drove forward with the ball. As he got closer, the gap opened for the winger, but his shot didn’t have the accuracy to trouble Neal from 14 yards.

Following a number of substitutions, both teams still continued to search for a vital goal, for different reasons.

It didn’t appear Mark Bower’s side would get anything from the game, but the men from the Horsfall never gave up and snatched a dramatic equaliser. 

Substitute Sanyang hit one of the best passes of the game, switching the play from left to right. Windass controlled the excellent pass and showed his quality by delivering a wonderful cross to the far post. Knight was lurking at the far post and smashed the ball past Neal from eight yards, to the delight of the Avenue dugout.

AFC Fylde: Neal, Burke, Conlan, Nolan (Lussey 70), Whitmore (c), Tollitt, Philliskirk, Hulme (Sampson 88), Sanders, Willoughby, Brennan (Shaw 64)

Subs not used: Mondal, Ogle

Goals: Tollitt (13), Willoughby (15), Conlan (66)

Bradford (Park Avenue): Atkinson, Ross, Boyes, Marriott (Sanyang 39), Havern, Windass, Hibbs, Toulson (Ibrian 74), Clee, Knight (Lyons 90+3), Dockerty

Subs not used: Downing, Huffer

Goals: Dockerty (3), Knight (30)(90+2)

Yellow card: Clee

Referee: Dean Watson

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

Bradford took the lead as Lewis Knight showed great composure to slot the ball into the net before the Moors levelled through a volley from Ryan Hall in the second half. The Avenue regained the lead  a couple of minutes later  with another excellent Knight strike but Taylor nodded the ball past Dan Atkinson in the final minutes of the game.

Despite a bright start by the Moors, the visitors took the lead. Captain Luca Havern produced a bit of magic in the centre of the park and threaded a through ball to Knight. The striker took the ball round goalkeeper Dale Eve and side-footed the ball into the net from ten yards.

Mark Bower’s side looked impressive and nearly doubled their advantage. Harry Boyes, who drove down the left wing, pulled the ball back to Isaac Marriott, but the midfielder’s strike went down the throat of Eve from 12 yards.

Five minutes later, the Moors could’ve equalised as Rob Ramshaw was put through, one-on-one with Atkinson. But, the midfielder failed to hit the target from ten yards.

Before the break, Atkinson, who continues to make some unbelievable saves, made another from a corner as Taylor rose above his marker, but the Bradford number one tipped the ball against the bar.

Then, into added time, a free-kick from Nicky Clee was half-cleared and as the ball dropped out of the sky, Brad Dockerty hit a stunning left-footed volley, from 16 yards, which brushed the bottom of the post.

After the break, Havern came close to scoring his side’s second goal of the afternoon. A low set-piece from Knight was controlled by the defender and after twisting the ball onto his right-foot, his effort went agonisingly wide of Eve’s far post.

After watching Atkinson save well from Taylor, Bradford, again, came close to doubling their lead. From distance, Knight hit a stunning strike from 35 yards, and with Eve at full-stretch, the ball grazed the crossbar.

After making a double substitution, the Moors pushed forward and scored an equaliser. Following Atkinson’s save from Scott McLean, the pressure continued and a defensive header went across the box which was smashed into the roof of the net by Ryan Hall from 18 yards.

Despite conceding, the Avenue replied with an excellent goal. Knight drifted off the left wing and, with confidence flowing through his veins, the striker curled a superb right-footed effort from 20 yards into the bottom corner.

Then, following a straight red card for Ryan Toulson for an off-the-ball incident with Taylor, Jason Ainsley’s side scored their second goal. McLean delivered a teasing ball which was flicked by Taylor towards goal, and despite Atkinson getting a hand to it, the ball found the back of the net from 12 yards.

Into the final few minutes, the Moors threw men forward and substitute Frank Mulhern had two opportunities to snatch a dramatic victory. But, the Avenue held on for a deserved draw in the North East.

Spennymoor Town: Eve, Forbes, Blakeman (Thompson 67), Curtis, Buddle, Moke (Mulhern 56), Spencer, Ramshaw, McKenna (Hall 67), McLean, Taylor 

Subs not used: Anderson, Magnay

Goals: Hall (78), Taylor (84)

Yellow cards: Taylor, Spencer 

Bradford (Park Avenue): Atkinson, Ross, Boyes, Marriott, Havern, Windass, Toulson, Hibbs, Dockerty (Sanyang 80), Knight (Ibrian 89), Clee

Subs not used: Huffer, Downing, Hussain

Goals: Knight (8), (80)

Yellow card: Toulson

Red card: Toulson

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors 

Referee: Paul Brown

A teasing free-kick delivery by Lewis Knight was met by the Havern, who escaped Sean Reid inside the box, to nod home from eight yards as his side held on for a crucial victory.

The team from the Horsfall set up with plenty of pace in attack and caused their hosts some problems early into the game.

Issac Marriott, who never stopped running for 90 minutes and the link between midfield and attack, tried his luck from 25 yards but it flew over the bar.

After watching Tyrone O’Neill drag a shot wide from a similar position, the Avenue were hitting the channels well, with both Omar Sanyang and Brad Dockerty supporting Knight and winning free-kicks in good positions. But it was Harry Boyes, who continues to impress during his loan spell, crossing the ball into the area but the referee blew his whistle to give handball against former Avenue man Ben Hedley.

Knight stepped up and curled the ball towards the penalty spot and Havern rose the highest to glance a header into the back of the net, sparking celebrations from those wearing amber and black.

Alun Armstrong’s side grew into the game and, five minutes later, hit the woodwork twice in 60 seconds.

Erico Sousa came off his wing with the ball, running across the pitch, finding Adam Campbell on the left flank and his cross was headed by striker Dan Maguire from eight yards against the bar.

As the Avenue tried to clear the danger, O’Neill grabbed a loose ball, worked possession onto his right foot and curled an effort, from 25 yards, towards goal but Dan Atkinson produced an unbelievable fingertip save to deny the striker as the ball thundered off the underside of the bar and into the goalkeeper’s hands.

Maguire was forced off with an injury as was replaced by Luke Charman for Darlo, but that didn’t affect the Avenue’s gameplan as they nearly doubled their advantage. 

Marriott found Knight who ran at the defence and the striker fired a low right-footed shot from 20 yards which was pushed away by goalkeeper Johnny Saltmer.

After the restart, the Avenue continued to look for a quick counter-attack to hurt their opponents but it was Darlington FC who came close to an equaliser.

From a similar position to the goal, Sousa delivered a free-kick into the box, but Boyes was the first to react and crucially flick the ball away from the head of Louis Laing.

The Avenue were struggling to get out of their own half, but all the play was in front of them and with nine men behind the ball, Bradford continued to frustrate the home side.

O’Neill was dropping deeper to get the ball and after looking up, he spotted an unmarked Campbell on the edge of the box. Just as he got a shot away, Mark Ross and Luca Havern bravely threw their bodies at the ball to take the pace out of his effort making it an easier save for Atkinson.

The Avenue number one was forced into another fine save as midfielder Joe Wheatley, who’d been kept relatively quiet by the impressive Marriott, drove forward and rather than passing, he hit a low right-footed strike from 20 yards, which was well saved by Atkinson.

After a cheeky chip from substitute Jarrett Rivers being saved by the outstretched hand of Atkinson, the Avenue got the opportunity they wanted. Dockerty set himself up, 25 yards from goal, and with a gap between the two defenders, the number nine fired an excellent strike which was tipped against the bar by Saltmer.

Into additional time, the Avenue remain organised and disciplined. After seeing O’Neill’s effort fly over from 25 yards, Bradford were tested one final time. They cleared the ball away but Hedley controlled the ball, made a great connection from distance, and his shot brushed the top of the bar to the relief of the visitors.

Darlington FC: Saltmer, Hedley, Watson, Laing, Atkinson, Sousa, Reid, Wheatley (Hudson 86), Campbell (Rivers 64), Maguire (Charman 31), O’Neill

Subs not used: Minter, Storey

Yellow: Wheatley 

Bradford (Park Avenue): Atkinson, Ross, Boyes, Marriott, Havern (c), Windass, Toulson, Hibbs, Dockerty, Knight (Clee 76), Sanyang

Subs not used: Downing, Huffer, L.Lyons

Goal: Havern (15)

Yellow cards: Havern, Hibbs

Referee: Jonny Urwin

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors