Bradford Park Avenue climbed to eighth in the table after becoming the first team in the Vanarama National League North to do the double over high-fliers Brackley Town.

 Ryan Toulson unleashed a left-footed thunderbolt with ten minutes remaining to clinch a 1-0 victory over the promotion-chasing Saints.

Mark Bower made two changes to the side that beat Boston United, dropping Steven Drench to the substitutes bench in place of Ed Hall and fielding Ryan Toulson in central midfield in place of Danny Boshell. Avenue’s substitute bench featured Academy defender Lewis Johnson and young striker Bradley Oliver also travelled with the team.

Avenue flew out of the blocks and had a several opportunities to open the scoring early on. Toulson blazed over after a neat exchange between Nicky Wroe and Frank Mulhern provided him with the space to let fly.

Adam Boyes wriggled away from his marker in the box, only to fail to generate enough power in his shot to trouble Danny Lewis.

Wroe had no trouble in generating power with an effort of his own shortly after, hammering a volley goal wards before seeing it fly wide.

However, the hosts grew into the game and began asking questions of Avenue’s backline.

James Armson had a golden opportunity to fire Brackley ahead after being teed up by Matt Lowe but blasted over from close-range to the despair of home supporters.

Lowe provided an outlet for the Saints throughout, as did Lee Ndlovu who constantly looked to get in behind using his blistering pace. The forward’s composure, however, was lacking and he fired into the clutches of Hall after rounding Shane Killock.

As the interval approached, there was a lull in entertainment and the only incident of note in the latter stages was a confrontation between several players following a foul on Hall.

Brackley piled the pressure on Avenue after the half-time break, keen to gain the upper hand by striking first. Connor Franklin drilled across the box and his delivery came very close to finding Ndlovu, but Shane Killock hooked over his own crossbar to clear the danger.

Franklin then cut in from the left before pulling the trigger but was thwarted by the outstretched leg of Mark Ross.

Lowe was also denied by excellent Avenue defending, as a Luca Havern block lifted the Saints winger’s effort over the crossbar.

Hall was called into action to tip a powerful Armson volley over the crossbar, stunning Brackley fans behind the goal with his acrobatic stop.

Oli Johnson made his return from a three-match suspension to replace Mulhern as the clock ticked and made an instant impact with a crucial assist.

Wroe picked the substitute out with a diagonal delivery that the forward flicked into the path of an on-rushing Toulson. He darted into the box to latch on to it before hammering home with his left foot to give Mark Bower’s side the lead.

Despite a nervy final few minutes, Avenue held on and secured one of their most impressive wins of the season so far.

Brackley Town: Lewis, Myles, Franklin (Nicholson 74’), Byrne, Graham, Dean (c), Lowe, Armson, Ndlovu (Brown 82’), Williams (Iaciofano 78’), Walker.

Unused substitutes: Streete, Diggin.

Bradford Park Avenue: Hall, Ross, Hill, Wroe (c), Killock, Havern, Brooksby (Recizac 90+1’), Toulson, Boyes, Spencer, Mulhern (Johnson 71’).

Unused substitutes: Johnson, Drench, Boshell.

Referee: Rob Massey-Ellis

Attendance: 290

Boyes brace beats Boston

Adam Boyes notched his 18^th league goal of the season with just minutes remaining to make it back-to-back wins for a reinvigorated Bradford Park Avenue.

He had grabbed his 17^th in the first-half, cancelling out an early opener from Boston United captain Jordan Keane.

Mark Bower made one change to the side that saw off Leamington last week, drafting in midfielder Danny Boshell to replace Rob Atkinson after the defender was forced off during the victory over the Brakes.

The hosts made a dream start, taking the lead after just three minutes. They were awarded a free-kick in controversial circumstances after Jake Beesley was brought down outside the box, and Ashley Hemming’s delivery was met by the head of captain Jordan Keane. The defender glanced a header beyond the reach of Steven Drench to leave the visitors shell shocked.

Hemmings caused problems again with a cross shortly after, but his lofted delivery was headed clear by Matt Hill after the winger had escaped the challenge of Frank Mulhern.

Beesley advanced into the box before cutting-back to Brad Abbott but his through ball missed its target and rolled to Drench.

Gianluca Havern and Shane Killock were proving difficult opposition for Boston’s pacey frontline and the latter made an excellent sliding challenge to thwart James Clifton, who opened to shoot after cutting-in from the right.

Avenue did begin to knock on the door as the half progressed and Boyes rattled the crossbar with a thunderous effort from just outside the box.

Boston continued to enjoy opportunities despite Avenue’s testing of Willis and nearly doubled their lead when Beesley drew a fantastic save from Drench with a well-struck half-volley.

However, it was Avenue that found a way through when Boyes powered home a header from a Ross delivery to draw level.

The visitors almost took the lead on the stroke of half-time, as both Boyes and Jamie Spencer saw efforts blocked by Keane on the edge of the box.

HALF-TIME: Boston United 1-1 Bradford Park Avenue

The Pilgrims enjoyed a prolonged spell of pressure after the interval but failed to find a way past the in-form Drench.

An interchange between Andi Thanoj and Hemmings opened space for the latter to shoot but the winger blazed over with a wild effort.

It was soon Avenue’s turn to regain a grip on the game, as they began to enjoy more time on the front foot.

Boyes drilled across goal in search of Spencer, but ex-Avenue man Ryan Qualter hooked behind before the young midfielder could pounce.

Mulhern skipped past Ben Middleton before checking back but his cross looped over the head of a lurking Boyes.

With the tie poised at 1-1, the final few minutes were set to be entertaining. They certainly lived up to expectations, and Mark Bower’s men would have been forgiven for thinking luck simply wasn’t on their side after seeing three shots hooked away on the line.

Two came from substitute Antoine Remi Recizac, who caused problems following his introduction with some impressive movement and skill. After his second was blocked on the goal line, the ball fell to Mulhern whose effort was also denied by a last-ditch clearance.

The resilient visitors were eventually rewarded for their pressure, taking the lead in the 90^th minute when Boyes steered past Willis after the ball fell to the clinical finisher in the box.

FULL-TIME: Boston United 1-2 Bradford Park Avenue

 Boston United: Willis, Middleton, Brogan, Thanoj, Keane (c), Qualter, Clifton (McGuire 77’), Abbott (Tshimanga 83’), Thompson, Beesley (Smith 67’), Hemmings.

Unused substitutes: Stewart, Wafula.

 Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Ross, Hill, Wroe (c), Killock, Havern, Brooksby (Recizac 75’), Boshell, Boyes, Spencer, Mulhern (Toulson 90+2’).

Unused substitutes: Hall, Knight.

Referee: Sam Mulhall

Drench stop puts the brakes on Leamington’s race for survival

Adam Boyes’ early opener gave Bradford Park Avenue maximum points at the expense of strugglers Leamington.

Mark Bower made two changes to the side that lost to Chorley, re-instating Rob Atkinson and Adam Boyes to the starting line-up following injuries in place of Danny Boshell and Adam Smith. Striker Lee Knight was named a substitute after being recalled from his loan spell at Halesowen Town in midweek.

The hosts’ team selection will have raised eyebrows prior to kick-off, with three centre-backs being named in the starting eleven. Atkinson, Luca Havern and Shane Killock all lined-up in the heart of defence, with Mark Ross and Matt Hill operating as wing-backs. Wayne Brooksby took up a more central role than he is used to, playing in front of the midfield pairing of Nicky Wroe and Jamie Spence and in behind the frontline.

Avenue made a dream start, taking the lead before a minute had been played. Jamie Spencer’s long-range piledriver was tipped on to the post by Tony Breeden, but Boyes was alert to the rebound and tucked home.

The Brakes were rallied by the early goal and began pumping balls forward towards the numerous bodies that had piled into the box. Avenue, however, weathered the storm admirably.

The new system was clearly something that was going to take time to get used to and the hosts struggled to find their feet in the aftermath of the opener.

Connor Gudger took two free-kicks in dangerous positions but couldn’t find the target with his dipping efforts.

After enduring a brief spell of Leamington pressure, Avenue began to take control of the game and came close to doubling their advantage on several occasions.

Frank Mulhern latched on to an inch-perfect through ball from Boyes but was thwarted by an equally as impressive sliding challenge from Jamie Hood.

Spencer sprayed the ball wide to Ross, who was racing forward unmarked, but the defender’s chipped effort clipped the crossbar.

The visitors remained very much in contention despite the score line and would have been level had a foul in the box not ruled out Junior English’s header that flew past Drench.

Opportunities fell to both Gudger and Callum Gittings as the first-half approached its end, but neither could maintain their composure and failed to hit the target from inside the 18-yard box.

HALF-TIME: Bradford Park Avenue 1-0 Leamington

 Avenue were given a scare immediately after the restart, as Spencer’s clearance cannoned off Dan Udoh before flying over the crossbar despite briefly seeming like it would nestle in the top corner.

 The visitors were then given a scare of their own as Boyes’ long-range effort left Breeden stranded before striking the post.

Leamington dominated possession in the early stages of the first-half but only carved out one clear-cut opportunity. Udoh rounded Atkinson before squaring to Matt Dodd, who stretched but failed to make a connection.

This was until Jack Edwards was wrestled to the ground in the box by Mark Ross, giving Dodd the chance to convert from 12-yards. His spot-kick, however, was saved and held by Drench to the relief of Avenue players, staff and supporters.

Substitute Liam Canavan had an opportunity to salvage a point for the Brakes late on but fired a free-kick into to the face of Havern who deflected the ball behind.

He then headed into the grateful clutches of Drench after Udoh had flicked the ball towards him in the box.

Avenue have faced criticism for their inability to hold out in the late stages of games in recent weeks but did so to claim a much-needed three points and condemn lowly Leamington to defeat.

 FULL-TIME: Bradford Park Avenue 1-0 Leamington

 Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Ross, Hill, Atkinson (Toulson 70’), Killock, Havern, Brooksby, Wroe (c), Boyes, Spencer, Mulhern (Boshell 74’).

Unused substitutes: Hall, Recizac, Knight.

Leamington: Breeden (c), English, Gudger, Clarke (Canavan 67’), Hood, Mace, Dunbar (Revan 77’), Gittings, Udoh, Edwards, Obeng (Dodd 62’).

Unused substitutes: Magunda, Moore.

Referee: Garreth Rhodes