A clinical Stockport County reduced the gap between themselves and second-placed Bradford (Park Avenue) in the table to a solitary point with a convincing 3-0 victory at Edgeley Park.

The hosts made a dream start, firing themselves into the lead after just five minutes. Matty Warburton found space on the edge of the box before unleashing a left-footed strike that found the bottom corner.

Bursting with confidence, the Hatters showed no reluctance to pile bodies forward and threatened to double their lead on numerous occasions in the early stages.

Jack Atkinson had to be alert to prevent Warburton notching his second, diving to hold on to a powerful drive from the Stockport forward.

The young stopper was then relieved to see Darren Stephenson’s speculative strike find the wrong side of the woodwork after the winger skipped past Ryan Toulson.

Former Bradford loanee Frank Mulhern also came close to etching his name on the scoresheet, diving to meet Scott Duxbury’s delivery but heading wide.

The visitors began to recover from the early blow as the half progressed and carved open some opportunites of their own.

Nicky Clee’s drilled effort flew past the post after the midfielder was teed up by Oli Johnson and Conor Branson saw a glancing header held on to by Ben Hinchliffe.

The hosts, however, continued to threaten and Adam Thomas was unlucky to see his close-range header palmed away from danger in impressive fashion by Atkinson.

In a frantic end to the first-half, both sides went for the jugular. Hinchliffe pushed Nicky Wroe’s effort wide after Jake Beesley’s shot was blocked by Ashley Palmer.

Stockport winger Adam Thomas then tucked the ball away in the bottom corner, but the goal was ruled out when the linesman penalised Mulhern for straying offside.

Former Hatters defender Mark Ross came close to netting against his former employers in the late stages, seeing his powerful header plucked out of the bottom corner by Hinchliffe.

HALF-TIME: Stockport County 1-0 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Atkinson was thrust into action immediately after the restart, being forced to make impressive stops to deny Warburton and Stephenson in quick succession.

The resulting corner was delivered by Duxbury and found Palmer, who headed wide after escaping his marker.

Bradford found themselves camped in their own half but launched a swift counter-attack when Lewis Knight burst down the right flank. Stephenson, however, managed to shepherd the forward wide, forcing his shot to come from a tight angle and making the save a routine one for Hinchliffe.

The hosts eventually doubled their lead when Stephenson’s low shot from just inside the 18-yard box nestled in the bottom corner, despite Atkinson getting a fingertip to the ball.

Six minutes later, the Hatters added to their advantage in bizarre circumstances. Mulhern emerged from behind Atkinson as he prepared to punt forward, stole possession and tucked away in a vacated net.

The lead was almost further extended almost immediately after the third goal when Warburton’s long-range strike left the crossbar shaking.

The visitors failed to mount a comeback as Stockport retained their control of what evolved into a one-sided affair.

Jim Gannon’s side even enjoyed more opportunites in the late stages and Nicky Wroe had to lunge to block Sam Minihan’s powerful drive.

Wroe did catch a glimpse of goal himself in stoppage time but his speculative strike lacked the power required to trouble Hinchliffe, who held.

With the full-time whistle set to blow, Dimaio’s swerving effort whistled past the post, to the relief of a diving Atkinson.

FULL-TIME: Stockport County 3-0 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Stockport County: Hinchliffe, Minihan, Duxbury, Keane, Palmer, Stott, Thomas, Turnbull (c) (Osborne 71’), Mulhern (Bell 79’), Warburton (Dimaio 81’) Stephenson.
Unused substitutes: Cowan, Ormson.
Bradford (Park Avenue): Atkinson, Toulson, Lowe, Hurst (Nowakowski 64’), Killock (c), Ross, Knight, Branson, Beesley, Johnson (McKenna 45’), Clee (Wroe 30’).
Unused substitutes: Drench, Spencer.
Referee: John Matthews
Attendance: 4,105 (136 away)

Bradford (Park Avenue) were condemned to their first league defeat since October 2018 by Guiseley, in a Yorkshire derby somewhat marred by controversy.

In contrasting fashion to the Boxing Day encounter, Guiseley carved open more opportunities than Bradford did in the early stages.

An in-swinging delivery from Alex Purver caused chaos in the box and Will Thornton and Kingsley James both saw efforts blocked in the midst of a goalmouth scramble.

Thornton came close again moments later, sending a glancing header agonisingly wide of the post after Andrew Halls delivered from the right.

Bradford, however, grew into the game and began to cause problems of their own as the half progressed.
Jake Beesley nodded into the path of Oli Johnson, who drew a save from Marcus Dewhurst with a low drive.
The visitors were then given another scare when Lewis Knight’s cross struck the crossbar before dropping behind for a goal-kick.

Guiseley remained in contention despite an increase in the frequency of Bradford’s attacks and another goalmouth scramble ensued on the half-hour mark. Several players saw shots blocked before Oli Johnson managed to blast clear.

Lions stopper Dewhurst was forced to pull off a magnificent save to deny Beesley, tipping his flicked header over the woodwork after the striker met Nicky Clee’s long-throw.

Minutes after his throw teed up Beesley, Clee found himself furiously appealing for a penalty after being bundled to the ground by Kingsley James. Despite the protests from an incensed group of Bradford players, the referee deemed the incident to have taken place outside of the box.

The deadlock was broken by Guiseley on the stroke of half-time when Kayode Odejayi met Alex Purver’s free-kick delivery and nodded beyond the outstretched glove of Drench.

HALF-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 0-1 Guiseley

Dewhurst was called into action early in the first-half, being forced to deny Beesley with his left leg after the forward burst into the box and struck low.

The pinpoint accuracy of Purver’s crosses continued to cause Bradford problems in the second-half and he found Rowan Liburd with a particularly impressive one. The forward leapt above his marker to meet the delivery but directed his header wide.

Former Nethermoor favourite Johnson drew level with 25 minutes remaining on the clock, steering home from close-range after the ball fell kindly to him inside the box.

However, celebrations were short-lived as Guiseley’s advantage was restored just five minutes later. Liburd advanced before flicking beyond Drench and into the bottom corner.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Bradford substitute Jamie Spencer was shown a second yellow card following a scuffle with Niall Heaton. To the fury of the home supporters, the Lions defender didn’t receive his marching orders for his involvement in the fracas.

The ten-man hosts failed to trouble the visitors in the late stages, miscuing crosses and shots whilst struggling to find any sort of rhythm.

Guiseley’s lead was almost added to on the stroke of full-time, but Mark Ross denied Liburd with an excellent block in the 6-yard box.

FULL-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-2 Guiseley

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Toulson (Nowakowski 80’), Lowe, Hurst (Spencer 50’), Ross, Havern, Knight, Branson, Beesley, Johnson (c) (McKenna 82’), Clee.

Unused substitutes: Wroe, Killock.

Guiseley: Dewhurst, Moyo, Heaton, Purver, Thornton, Halls (c), Odejayi, James, Liburd, Hatfield, Smith (Felix 85’).

Unused substitutes: Green, Walsh, Walters, Clayton.

Referee: Paul Brown

Attendance: 665

Bradford (Park Avenue) extended their unbeaten league run to eleven games with a 2-2 draw against Boston United.

The high-flying visitors raced out of the blocks, heaping pressure on a Boston side that seemed shell-shocked by the early bombardment of attacks.

Oli Johnson was denied by Pilgrims stopper George Willis at close-range before Alex Hurst’s follow-up was hooked off the line in dramatic fashion.

Lewis Knight demonstrated his willingness to drive at Boston’s backline with an incisive dart that took him past Ashley Jackson, but his low cross was collected by Willis.

The onslaught continued, and Johnson was unlucky to see his cross fail to be capitalised upon after reaching the byline and firing across the face of goal.

The Bradford talisman then saw a close-range effort kept out by the right leg of Willis before Nicky Wroe’s follow-up found the wrong side of the crossbar.

Willis was called into action again soon after, being forced to push Gianluca Havern’s header wide after the defender had connected with Lewis Knight’s free-kick delivery.

Boston did enjoy an opportunity of their own on the half-hour mark, but Gavin Allott’s shot from inside the 18-yard box cannoned off the outstretched leg of a sliding Shane Killock.

The visitors were rewarded for the intense pressure heaped upon the hosts in the 35th minute when Knight opened the scoring in sensational fashion. The in-form marksman lifted the ball over the head of Willis from a long-range free-kick to send the travelling supporters into a frenzy.

He then came close to doubling his and the team’s tally, but his chipped effort found the wrong side of the woodwork.

HALF-TIME: Boston United 0-1 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Bradford were delivered an early blow in the second-half when Killock was adjudged to have fouled Nicky Walker inside the box. Ben Davies stepped up and converted despite Drench getting a fingertip to the effort.

Three minutes later, Max Wright fired the Pilgrims into the lead with a deflected strike that wrong-footed a helpless Drench.

The double salvo rallied Boston, who began to take control of an affair that Bradford dominated in the first-half.

Ryan Qualter nodded over the woodwork after connecting with Davies’ delivery, moments before Jay Rollins found Wright with an inch-perfect cross and the midfielder rattled the crossbar with a header.

Substitute Jordan Slew almost made an immediate impact following his introduction, drawing an impressive stop from Drench with a low drive from the left-hand side of the box.

Allott then tried his luck from close-range but was thwarted by Danny Lowe, who made a superb block.

Bradford launched a swift counter-attack as they hunted for an equaliser and Adam Nowakowski skipped past two players as he accelerated down the right flank. He squared to Beesley, who struck into the midriff of Willis and could only watch as Hurst followed up and fired over the crossbar.

Beesley was thwarted again just two minutes later as Willis tipped his powerful header wide at full stretch.

A scramble in the box saw several Bradford players desperately swing their foot at the ball as it bounced around, but Qualter hacked clear.

Deep into stoppage time, a point was salvaged when Ben McKenna burst forward and drilled past Willis with admirable composure.

FULL-TIME: Boston United 2-2 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Boston United: Willis, Davies, Jackson, Thanoj, Gibbens, Qualter, Wright, Abbott, Allott, Rollins (Slew 69’), Walker (Wafula 83’).

Unused substitutes: Chisholm, Rowe.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Lowe, Wroe (Clee 76’), Killock (c), Havern, Knight, Branson, Beesley, Johnson (Nowakowski 72’), Hurst (McKenna 82’).

Unused substitutes: Toulson, Spencer.

Referee: David McNamara

Bradford Park Avenue’s Boxing Day clash with mid-table outfit Guiseley AFC was not one that disappointed the fans who made the trip to Nethermoor.

Jake Beesley celebrates his first goal of the afternoon – Photo by John Rhodes

Captain Oli Johnson opened the proceedings on 3 minutes after latching on to a pass from Alex Hurst, calmly slotting the ball past Joe Green who was in between the sticks for Guiseley. Then, on 19 minutes, Jake Beesley made it two for Avenue after he collected a long ball by Knight and powered home for his first of the afternoon.

8 minutes later, Jake Beesley notched his second of the game after deftly lifting the ball over the onrushing Green. This goal saw Avenue race into a three-goal lead on 27 minutes, surely a dream return to Nethermoor for Mark Bower. A few vital stops from Steve Drench against Guiseley danger man Rowan Liburd and penalty appeals from Guiseley waved away by referee Dean Watson saw Avenue through to half time with a three-goal advantage over the home side.

Half Time: Guiseley 0 – 3 Bradford

Avenue, again, were quick from the restart when on 54 minutes they were awarded a penalty. Beesley confidently stepped up and although Green got a strong hand to it, it was not enough to deny the number 9 converting and completing his hat-trick.

4 minutes later, another astounding run from Alex Hurst and the resulting shot saw Avenue awarded with a corner, from which Conor Branson bundled home Bradford’s 5th of the afternoon. Around 10 minutes later, in the 67th, Guiseley pulled one back after a loose ball from a goal mouth scramble was fired home by Alex Purver.

Just 2 minutes after conceding, Gianluca Havern was then shown a red card after a late challenge. With that, Avenue had to play out the final 20 minutes of the game with 10-men. Luckily for Avenue, a Guiseley comeback was well out of question, all-be-it more vital saves from Drench made absolutely sure of this.

Finally, after 3 minutes of additional time, the referee drew proceedings to a close at Nethermoor, and the game ended with Bradford Park Avenue claiming a 5-1 victory over the home side and maintaining their position at the top of the table.

Full Time: Guiseley 1 – 5 Bradford

Next Saturday’s fixture sees Bradford face up against Boston United away at the Jakemans Stadium. K.O: 3pm

Bradford (Park Avenue) returned to the league summit with a hard-fought victory over Hereford.

The visitors were given an early scare when Lewis Knight delivered from the right and Jordan Cullinane-Liburd’s misdirected header cannoned off the crossbar.

Nicky Wroe then tried his luck from distance but saw his swerving effort fly wide.
George Lloyd was the first Hereford player to catch a glimpse of goal and his shot was struck with venom, but the ball whistled narrowly wide of the post.

The hosts then had the ball in the back of the net when Oli Johnson swivelled and lashed past Matt Yates. However, to the dismay of the home supporters, the linesman’s flag appeared, and the goal was ruled out for offside.
Both sides continued to throw caution to the wind in the first-half and there was little reluctance to attack. A neat exchange between Tom Owen-Evans and Kyle Finn created space for the former to shoot but his effort was blocked by the outstretched boot of Mark Ross.

Nicky Wroe then saw a shot blocked on the stroke of half-time after skipping past two players and pulling the trigger.

HALF-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 0-0 Hereford

Drench had to be alert to deny Hereford marksman Kyle Finn immediately after the restart, holding on to a thunderous strike from the forward.

Bradford then threatened with a swift counter-attack, which saw Oli Johnson thread through to an advancing Jake Beesley. The loanee skipped past Yates but was edged wide and blazed over the crossbar.
Johnson created an opportunity for himself by racing past Greenslade and making an incisive dart into the box, but his shot was lifted over the woodwork.

Despite Bradford’s pressure, the Bulls remained in contention and went close through George Lloyd. The forward drifted into space but his curling effort found the wrong side of the post.

The hosts broke the deadlock with twenty minutes remaining when Knight capitalised on a defensive mix-up to burst into the box and tap into a vacated net.

Despite having a deficit to overturn, Hereford failed to produce a response as the Bradford backline remained sturdy.
Penalty appeals were dismissed in stoppage time as Hereford players surrounded the referee, believing that James Roberts had been fouled inside the box.

Bradford were then appealing for a penalty of their own when Beesley was felled but the official, once again, ignored the protests.

FULL-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-0 Hereford

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Toulson, Lowe, Wroe (Spencer 77’), Ross, Havern, Knight (McKenna 81’), Branson, Beesley, Johnson (c) (Killock 90+4’), Clee.

Unused substitutes: Dawson, Hurst.

Hereford: Yates, Thomas, Greenslade, O’Sullivan, Cullinane-Liburd (c), Gowling, Dinsley, Owen-Evans, Finn (Roberts 72’), Lloyd (Dielna 84’), Symons.

Unused substitutes: Murphy, Wharton, Horsell.

Referee: Adam Herczog

Attendance: 448

Bradford (Park Avenue) were denied victory by a stunning strike from Southport’s Bradley Bauress in a 2-2 draw at the Horsfall Stadium.

The early stages yielded little in the way of entertainment as both sides wrestled with the conditions and struggled to find any rhythm.

However, the visitors pounced in the 13th minute to edge themselves ahead. Dean Winnard connected with Bradley Bauress’ corner delivery and directed his header past a helpless Steven Drench.

The goal rallied Bradford, who struck back through Conor Branson just four minutes later. The returning midfielder dived to meet Lewis Knight’s free-kick delivery before heading into the bottom corner.

With the wind in their sails, Bradford began to attack with an increased sense of urgency and a quicker tempo. Knight sent a shot wide of the post from the right-hand side of the box and Conor Branson saw a header saved by Daniel Hanford after connecting with Nicky Wroe’s free-kick delivery.

Southport dealt with the onslaught and aimed to ask questions of the Bradford backline with swiftly-launched counter-attacks. A neat exchange between Jordan Archer and Dion Charles provided the latter with the opportunity to test Drench but he failed to do so, firing over the crossbar.

Archer then found himself on the end of an inch-perfect cross from Jordan Richards, but he headed wide after escaping Gianluca Havern in the box.

HALF-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-1 Southport

The first opportunity of the second-half fell to Southport skipper David Morgan, but Drench pushed his long-range effort wide and the resulting corner was cleared.

Morgan then saw a speculative effort from an even greater distance sail over the woodwork.
Beesley then found himself one-on-one with Hanford after a deflected pass from Nicky Clee put the ball in the forward’s path. The ball, however, ran out of play after Beesley knocked the ball to the side of an on-rushing Hanford.

Danny Lowe then had his blushes spared by Drench, who made a magnificent save to prevent the defender’s misdirected header nestling in Bradford’s own net.

The hosts took the lead in the 74th minute through stand-in skipper Oli Johnson, who raced away from Richards and steered past Hanford from the left-hand side of the box.

The Sandgrounders took just three minutes to produce a response and did so in sensational fashion. A stunning long-range strike from Bauress levelled proceedings after nestling in the bottom corner.

Southport substitute Devarn Green then demonstrated some deft footwork on the right flank before teeing up Charles, but the midfielder blasted over.

Both sides continued to hunt for the elusive winning goal but neither managed to make a breakthrough. Adam Nowakowski was denied by Hanford at close-range and Marcus Wood’s audacious piledriver flew narrowly wide before the referee blew the final whistle.

FULL-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 2-2 Southport

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Toulson, Lowe, Wroe (Spencer 82’), Ross, Havern, Knight, Beesley, Johnson (c), Clee (Nowakowski 71’).

Unused substitutes: Dawson, Hurst, McKenna.

Southport: Hanford, Richards, Ogle, Edwards, Winnard, Morgan (c), Charles, Wood, Gilchrist (Green 62’), Archer (Sampson 72’), Bauress.

Unused substitutes: Homson-Smith, Mueller, Parry.

Referee: Tom Parsons

Bradford (Park Avenue) retained their grip on top spot in the Vanarama National League North with a hard-fought victory over AFC Telford United.

Supporters were treated to a fast and fiery first-half, during which both sides created several opportunites and tempers threatened to flare on numerous occasions.

The hosts were keen to test Bradford in the opening exchanges and Bucks frontman Daniel Udoh registered the first shot on target of the game after just two minutes. His effort, however, was tame and rolled into the grateful clutches of Steven Drench.

A corner routine taken straight from the Telford training ground then created space for Darryl Knights to shoot, but he fired over the woodwork from a central position.

Telford were soon carved open themselves and Oli Johnson managed to flick over a stranded Andy Wycherley, but saw his effort hooked off the line in dramatic fashion by Shane Sutton.

Nicky Clee threaded through to an on-rushing Lewis Knight, but the Bradford man’s strike was blocked by makeshift left-back Ellis Deeney.

Deeney then almost made an impact at the other end when he connected with Knights’ teasing delivery. Despite having to scramble across his line, Drench held on to the powerful header.

Clee proved to be a thorn in Telford’s side throughout the first-half and found Knight with a superb lofted pass. The on-rushing attacker made an incisive dart into the box before being thwarted by Deeney’s sliding tackle.

Clee then skipped past two players with some deft footwork before teeing up Nicky Wroe, but the midfielder’s shot was diverted away from goal by the outstretched boot of Sutton.

The Bucks began to take control in the late stages of the half yet failed to capitalise on the opportunites they created. James McQuilkin sent two free-kick efforts over the crossbar and Amari Morgan-Smith headed wide after meeting Udoh’s cross.

HALF-TIME: AFC Telford United 0-0 Bradford (Park Avenue)

A collision between Drench and Udoh left both in a heap shortly after the restart and Knights attempted to take advantage. He lifted over the floored duo, but his effort found the wrong side of the crossbar.
Three minutes later, Bradford were ahead through Knight, who tucked the ball away in a vacated net after Wycherley parried Beesley’s curling effort.

Telford’s frustration was clear for all to see and McQuilkin sent a speculative effort wide despite several of his teammates making themselves available.

The trailing hosts desperately searched for an equaliser but found themselves unable to break the visitors down. Bradford’s defence remained resolute, forcing Telford to resort to speculative strikes from long-range.

Deeney escaped Ryan Toulson and teed up McQuilkin, but his audacious attempt whistled wide of the post.

Substitute Ryan Barnet came closer, forcing Drench to pluck his thunderous effort out of the top left-hand corner.

As the game entered its final ten minutes, pressure began to mount upon Bradford. Sutton connected with a corner delivery but nodded wide and Barnett was denied by Drench for a second time, watching his low drive be dropped upon by the Bradford stopper.

Bradford soaked up the pressure heaped upon them and launched a swift counter-attack to seal the three points in stoppage time. Beesley squared to Spencer from the left and the midfielder made no mistake in steering past Wycherley with admirable composure.

FULL-TIME: AFC Telford United 0-2 Bradford (Park Avenue)

AFC Telford United: Wycherley, White, Deeney, McQuilkin, Sutton (c), Smith (Barnett 62’), Cowans, Royle, Morgan-Smith (Daniels 78’), Udoh, Knights (Brown 78’).

Unused substitutes: Bramley, Ceesau.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Toulson, Lowe, Wroe, Ross, Havern, Nowakowski (Spencer 76’), Knight, Beesley, Johnson, Clee.

Unused substitutes: Dawson.

Referee: Aaron Jackson

Attendance: 1,468

Bradford (Park Avenue) crashed out of the Buildbase FA Trophy following a 4-0 defeat to league rivals Altrincham.

In a first-half that yielded little quality from either side, Altrincham provided the cutting edge that separated them from the visitors.

Robins defender Connor Hampson surged forward before forcing Steven Drench to produce and impressive save in the opening five minutes and it wasn’t long until the hosts were ahead.

Danny Lowe bundled Jordan Hulme to the ground, handing John Johnston the opportunity to step up and send Drench the wrong way with a penalty.

Bradford looked to respond swiftly but after Nicky Clee found Jake Beesley with a free-kick delivery, the forward poked into a sea of bodies before the ball was cleared.

Clee, a familiar face at the J. Davidson Stadium, then embarked on a mazy run that saw him skip past three players, but his drilled cross was intercepted by Tom Hannigan.

The Robins continued to look most likely to score and went close through Andrew White, who saw his low drive pushed wide by the outstretched right glove of Drench.

A lapse in concentration from Lowe enabled Johnston to shoot from close-range but Drench was on-hand to spare the defender’s blushes and beat away the winger’s effort.

Altrincham’s lead was then doubled when Josh Hancock rolled into the path of Hulme, who tucked away in the bottom corner in a composed manner.

The visitors did register a shot on target before the half-time whistle blew, but McKenna’s thunderous volley was palmed away from danger by Robins stopper Andrew Thompson.

HALF-TIME: Altrincham 2-0 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Altrincham added to their advantage shortly after the restart when Johnston teed up Josh Hancock and the midfielder curled past Drench from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Johnston then came very close to adding a fourth in similar fashion to how Hancock netted the third, but his curling effort was held by Drench.

A golden opportunity fell Jake Beesley’s way after Oli Johnson darted to the byline and squared, but the forward poked wide from 5-yards out.

Johnson was the provider again when he cut back to an on-rushing Alex Hurst from the left, but the midfielder blasted over the crossbar from just inside the box.

Despite having a comfortable lead, the Robins continued to threaten and almost added a fourth through Owen Dale. He latched on to a punt from Jake Moult before making an incisive dart into the box but dragged wide under pressure from Gianluca Havern.

They carved Bradford open again with twelve minutes remaining on the clock and substitute Kallum Mantack become the fourth Robins player to etch his name on the scoresheet. He arrived at the back post to meet Hulme’s delivery before miscuing his first attempt at a shot but made amends by retaining possession and steering past Drench.

In the final ten minutes, the Robins sat deep within their own half and sprayed the ball around with confidence, safe in the knowledge that they had a comfortable lead. Mark Bower’s side chased relentlessly but failed to cause the hosts any problem in the latter stages.

Altrincham: Thompson, White, Hampson (Densmore 75’), Jones, Hannigan, Moult, Johnston (Mantack 75’), Richman, Hulme, Hancock (Harrop 80’), Dale.

Unused substitutes: Langley, Wynne.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Lowe (Johnson 58’), Spencer (Wroe 58’), Killock (c), Havern, McKenna, Branson, Beesley (Nowakowski 71’), Hurst, Clee.

Unused substitutes: Toulson, Atkinson.

Referee: Richard Aspinall

HT: 2-0

Attendance: 570

Bradford (Park Avenue) staged a late comeback to clinch a stunning victory over Ashton United.

The hosts suffered an early setback when Bradley Jackson wriggled away from his marker and rifled past Steven Drench.

Bradford looked to respond swiftly but Jake Beesley headed wide after connecting with Ben McKenna’s delivery from the left.

A neat exchange between Matt Hill and Bradley Jackson freed the latter but his cross wasn’t capitalised upon by the on-rushing Ashton attackers.

It didn’t take long for the Robins to double their lead and send the travelling supporters into a frenzy. The outstretched glove of Drench touched Liam Martin’s effort, but he couldn’t prevent the ball nestling in the bottom corner.

An opportunity fell Jamie Spencer’s way after he burst into the box but the midfielder struck into the midriff of Ashton stopper Pilling.

Drench couldn’t keep Martin’s shot out, but he did deny Liam Tomsett, producing a spectacular save to thwart him at point blank range.

Drench had to be alert again as half-time approached, scrambling across his line to hold Matthew Regan’s flicked header.

HALF-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 0-2 Ashton United

Bradford started the brightest after the interval but Nicky Clee’s cross was intercepted after he weaved his way past three defenders.

The makeshift left-back also drilled a free-kick into the wall before McKenna’s follow-up was held by Pilling.

The former occupant of the left-back position at the Horsfall Stadium, Hill, then tried his own luck but fired into a sea of bodies.

Bradford eventually made a breakthrough when Alex Hurst teed up Lewis Knight, allowing the forward to rifle past Pilling from distance and reduce the deficit.

An equaliser followed almost immediately as the ball fell to Shane Killock inside the box and the captain steered into the bottom corner.

A shellshocked Ashton backline were carved open again in stoppage time and Killock netted his second to clinch victory.

FULL-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 3-2 Ashton United

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Clee, Wroe (Lowe 45’), Killock (c), Havern, Spencer (Nowakowski 71’), Branson, Beesley, McKenna, (Hurst 71′), Knight.

Unused substitutes: Toulson, Atkinson.

Ashton United: Pilling, Lees (c) (Casian-Anghel 90+3’), Hill (Crowther 90+3’), Ashworth, Chalmers, Sheridan, Jackson, Regan, Martin, Tomsett (Kay 78′), Askew.

Unused substitutes: Howarth, Roberts.

Referee: Michael Barlow

Attendance: 474

Bradford (Park Avenue) claimed top spot in the Vanarama National League North despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Curzon Ashton.

The hosts were the first to try their luck, but Connor Hughes sent his long-range effort wide of the post.

They were then given a scare when Jamie Spencer threaded through to Jake Beesley, but the forward miscued his attempt to slide the ball into the path of Oli Johnson.

Supporters eventually saw a shot find the target when Curzon registered the first of the afternoon. Hughes wriggled away from Mark Ross and made an incisive dart into the box but fired into the midriff of Drench.

Bradford made an early substitution in the twelfth minute, introducing former Curzon winger Ben McKenna to the action in place of Johnson.

Lewis Knight received his first opportunity of the game when Conor Branson headed into his path, but his volley looped into the clutches of Nash stopper Cameron Mason.

The most clear-cut chances of the half both fell to Curzon frontman Niall Cummins, who failed to convert on two occasions.

He went one-on-one with Drench after latching on to a long punt but failed to find either side of the goalkeeper. A misdirected header from Nicky Clee then fell at his feet but he poked wide under pressure from a recovering Gianluca Havern.

Nicky Wroe found Beesley with a corner delivery, but the two sides headed into the break level after the forward directed his effort into a sea of bodies.

HALF-TIME: Curzon Ashton 0-0 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Bradford made a quick start to the second-half, carving Curzon open with two neat exchanges between Spencer and Knight.

McKenna then saw a shot blocked by Mason Fawns after being teed up by Beesley.

Wroe pulled the trigger from distance and came within a whisker of finding the top corner, seeing his effort narrowly rise over the woodwork.

The deadlock was eventually broken when Beesley connected with a free-kick delivery from Knight and directed a header past a helpless Mason.

Curzon, however, were back on level terms just four minutes later when Crankshaw latched on to Ryan Brooke’s pass and poked past Drench.

With the wind in their sails, the hosts began to pile bodies forward and Hughes was unlucky to see his strike from the left-hand side fly wide.

The affair became a cagey one as it progressed into its latter stages and neither side could find the spark required to unlock the opposition’s defence.

With three minutes remaining on the clock, chaos descended on the Tameside Stadium as all 22 players and staff came to blows. Bradford’s coaching staff and players alike were infuriated to see a foul on Spencer go unpunished and Curzon were incensed when the midfielder reacted by fouling Daniel Morton. Shane Killock, Spencer and Morton were all booked for their involvement in the fracas.

FULL-TIME: Curzon Ashton 1-1 Bradford (Park Avenue)

Curzon Ashton: Mason, Rowney, Fawns, Hunt (c), Morton, O’Leary, Crankshaw (Wall 90+5′), Ali, Cummins, Brooke, Hughes (Khoury 75′).

Unused substitutes: Merrill, Muir, Boyles.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Clee, Wroe (Hurst 69′), Killock (c), Havern, Spencer, Branson, Beesley, Johnson (McKenna 12’), Knight.

Unused substitutes: Toulson, Atkinson, Nowakowski.

Referee: Adam Herczog