A stoppage-time volley from James Ball ensured that Stockport County took maximum points at Horsfall Stadium despite a second-half rally from hosts, Bradford Park Avenue.

 Mark Bower made two changes from the side that saw off AFC Telford United on Monday night, handing a starting berth to Frank Mulhern after he stepped off the bench to bag a brace against the Bucks, and re-instating Adam Boyes following injury. Danny Boshell dropped to the bench and Nicky Clee was withdrawn from the squad altogether.

The Hatters took an early lead when Matthew Warburton’s strike cannoned off Jason Oswell and nestled in the bottom corner, shocking an Avenue side full of confidence after an impressive win over AFC Telford United four days prior.

The hosts struggled to find their rhythm in the first-half, allowing Stockport to carve out a host of chances for their plethora of talented attackers. Steven Drench was forced to make two sensational stops to deny Oswell after the forward got on the end of two teasing crosses.

The experienced goalkeeper also had to stretch to tip over a curled effort from Scott Duxbury, whose free-kick came very close to finding the top corner.

Some excellent intricate passing provided an opening for Wayne Brooksby to burst through the Stockport defence, but Boyes’ cut-back was behind the winger.

Avenue were much-improved after the interval and should have drawn level when Matt Hill picked out Boyes with a cross from deep, but the forward uncharacteristically rushed his effort and made Hinchliffe’s save a routine one.

With the hosts beginning to grow into the game, Oli Johnson glanced a header wide as pressure began to mount on the nervy Hatters.

Mark Bower’s side were, however, punished for squandering opportunites when Drench spilled a high ball into the path of Oswell, who stabbed home to double the away side’s lead.

The introductions of Jamie Spencer and Adam Smith to the Avenue midfield seemed to rejuvenate the side, and they were soon back in the game.

Ross found Javan Vidal with a delivery from the right, and the in-form utility man steered the ball into the bottom corner to offer Avenue a glimmer of hope.

They soon equalised through Mulhern, who netted his third goal in two games after clinically dispatching past Hinchliffe. Substitute Spencer had relentlessly chased down Hatters defenders and was rewarded when he dispossessed Jamie Stott before gaining an assist with a perfectly executed through ball to his former Huddersfield Town teammate.

The game seemed destined to end level, but the visitors had other ideas and Ball broke Avenue hearts with a well-struck volley that rendered Drench helpless deep into stoppage time.

Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Ross, Hill, Wroe (c), Killock, Havern, Brooksby, Vidal (Toulson 74’), Boyes (Smith 65’), Johnson (Spencer 56’), Mulhern.

Unused substitutes: Hall, Boshell.

Stockport County: Hinchliffe, Cowan, Duxbury, Winter (c), Clarke, Stott, Thomas (O’Halloran 76’), Ball, Oswell, Warburton (Minihan 64’), Turner (Stephenson 55’).

 Unused substitutes: Ormson, Turnbull.

Attendance: 1,044

Referee: Leigh Doherty

A spirited Avenue comeback reinvigorated their fading play-off hopes as they overcame AFC Telford United at the Horsfall Stadium.

Mark Bower made four changes from the side that suffered a crushing defeat to FC United of Manchester on Saturday, with experienced midfield duo Danny Boshell and Nicky Clee returning alongside Steven Drench and Gianluca Havern. Matt Hill and Oli Johnson both featured despite their dismissals in the previous game.

The best of the early opportunities fell to the home side, with Nicky Wroe and Shane Killock seeing close-range efforts blocked and frantically hacked away after the pair pounced on a deflected free-kick delivery.

The Bucks very nearly self-destructed shortly after as a weak header back to the goalkeeper from Dominic Smith allowed Wroe to intercept. Luckily for the visitors, a heavy touch allowed Ben Wilson to collect.

The visitors did, however, grow in confidence as the game progressed and very nearly opened the scoring through defender Shane Sutton. Telford’s skipper powered a header towards goal after meeting a corner delivery only for Drench to make a terrific stop to deny him at point blank range.

Avenue then came close to breaking the deadlock with a header as Danny Boshell made a late run into the box and rattled the crossbar with his effort.

Controversy was the last thing Avenue will have wanted following the dubious nature of Saturday’s red cards, but it came nonetheless as Killock brought down Kane Richards and the referee pointed to the spot. The official was crowded in the aftermath of the decision with players convinced it took place outside of the box but a spot-kick was awarded. Marcus Dinanga stepped up and coolly slotted home to fire the Bucks ahead.

HALF-TIME: Bradford Park Avenue 0-1 AFC Telford United

An injury forced Danny Boshell to be withdrawn at the interval, with on-loan Guiseley forward Frank Mulhern entering the fray in his place.

It proved to be an inspired switch, as the loanee netted his first goal in Avenue colours with a flicked header past Wilson to draw level.

Telford then had a golden opportunity to regain their lead after Elliot Newby’s effort was palmed into the path of Dinanga, who blazed over from six yards despite demonstrating composure with his earlier finish.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between as the final whistle approached, with a John Marsden strike that trickled into the Drench’s clutches being the most notable incident in a lull in entertainment and quality.

That was until Mulhern edged Avenue ahead with three minutes left on the clock, rising to meet an in-swinging delivery from Hill and glancing a header across Wilson and into the back of the net.

FULL-TIME: Bradford Park Avenue 2-1 AFC Telford United

Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Ross, Hill, Wroe (c), Killock, Havern, Brooksby, Boshell (Mulhern 45’), Vidal, Johnson, Clee (Smith 36’, replaced by Spencer 80’).

Unused substitutes: Toulson, Hall.

AFC Telford United: Wilson, White (Murphy 89’), Harris, Smith, Sutton (c), Deeney, Lussey (Giles 80’), Cowans, Richards (Marsden 74’), Dinanga, Newby.

Attendance: 334

Referee: Dean Watson

Unused substitutes: Johnson, Singh.

Two dubious red card decisions paved the way for FC United of Manchester to comprehensively defeat Bradford Park Avenue at Broadhurst Park.

Mark Bower shuffled the pack once again, making three changes to the side that were held by Alfreton Town a fortnight ago. Nicky Clee dropped out of the squad altogether, whilst Gianluca Havern and Danny Boshell settled for a place on the bench. Shane Killock replaced Havern in the heart of defence, Jamie Spencer returned to the midfield and Wayne Brooksby regained his spot on the right flank after overcoming his injury troubles.

The first-half certainly lived up to the pre-match expectations, as the boisterous supporters from both sides were treated to a thoroughly entertaining, end-to-end encounter.

The attacking intent of both sides was evident, with both the hosts and visitors showing little hesitation in piling bodies forward.

The hosts looked to test Ed Hall early on, but the young stopper demonstrated why Mark Bower has placed faith in him with a series of saves.

Jamie Spencer almost broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion, but his long-range piledriver was tipped over the crossbar by Lloyd Allinson.

Former Avenue cult hero Tom Greaves then came close to opening the scoring for the hosts, sliding and failing to capitalise on a Craig Lindfield cross that evaded him by mere inches.

Chaos then ensued in the closing minutes of the first-half as Matt Hill received his marching orders to the shock of the ground, after seemingly making a strong-but-fair challenge.

The resulting free-kick was rifled into the top corner by Jeff King, stunning Avenue and their supporters.

Moments later, the shock turned to fury as Oli Johnson was dismissed in as equally bizarre fashion for a foul that didn’t seem deserving of the punishment it received.

Avenue struggled to remain in contention after the break and were dealt a further blow in the shape of an injury to Adam Boyes, who joined Rob Atkinson in the treatment room after the defender’s earlier withdrawal.

The hosts doubled their advantage with another King free-kick, with a deflection helping it on its way as Hall was rendered helpless.

With Avenue camped in their own half, substitute Gerard Garner hammered home from close-range after the ball broke loose in the box to extend FC United’s lead.

A Shane Killock handball presented the hosts with another opportunity to find the back of the net and King converted from twelve yards with an audacious chip down the middle.

Avenue supporters remained loud and passionate, but their side faced an uphill battle to regain a foothold in the game and predictably failed to do so.

The game finished 4-0, with Mark Bower sympathetic towards the travelling supporters at the final whistle after two red cards marred the encounter.

FC United of Manchester: Allinson, Senior, Higham, Kay, Hughes, Fagbola, Crawford (Garner 65’), Irwin, Greaves, King (McCarthy 79’), Lindfield (c) (Glynn 36’).

Unused substitutes: Racchi, Tattum.

Bradford Park Avenue: Hall, Ross, Hill, Wroe (c), Atkinson (Toulson 26’), Killock, Brooksby, Vidal, Boyes (Mulhern 45’), Johnson, Spencer (Boshell 55’).

Unused substitutes: Havern, Smith.

Referee: David Underwood