A late equaliser from Adam Boyes denied Bradford (Park Avenue) a second win of the season against Spennymoor Town.

Former Bradford striker Boyes netted in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time to cancel out Brad Dockerty’s opener – his second in two games.

Avenue were left to rue missed chances as Lewis Knight could have had a hat-trick, but visiting goalkeeper Matthew Gould was in fine form.

Josh Heaton was brought straight into a line-up which also included a returning Rhys Taylor and Dockerty, following his goal off the bench last time out at Boston.

Avenue started quickly, winning a corner within 13 seconds, but it was the visitors who had the first attempt at goal, Andrew Johnson cutting inside, but his curled effort flashed past the post.

Law’s side were picking up a lot of loose balls and sloppy moments from the Spennymoor midfield, and one of those allowed them to grab the opener.

Marcus Wood picked up a loose ball and drove forward, waiting for the perfect moment to draw the defender out and slip in Dockerty, who just about managed to squeeze his shot under Gould and into the back of the net.

New signing Heaton was making a clear difference at the back, and he was called upon to make a key block as Johnson latched onto a long throw, with the ball looking destined to ripple the back of the net.

Then it was Taylor, returning after sitting out two games with a calf injury, who needed to be at his best, doing brilliantly to tip over as James Roberts struck powerfully towards the top corner from a tight angle.

Spennymoor started to see more of the ball but couldn’t get through a stern Avenue formation, and it was actually the hosts who should have extended their lead just before the break.

The hosts got a corner cleared and Wood played a brilliant ball over the top to Lewis Knight. His touch was excellent to take him through one-on-one with Gould, but his low finish was weak and was denied by the goalkeeper’s outstretched leg.

And Gould foiled Knight once more just after the interval. Avenue broke in numbers, led again by Wood, and he slipped in the winger whose powerful strike was acrobatically tipped over the bar by the visiting goalkeeper.

Knight was left disappointed though when he finally beat Gould, latching onto a brilliant Alex Hurst pass, and an excellent first touch saw him get past the goalkeeper, but he could only find the side netting with his finish from a tight angle.

Moments later the visitors came oh so close to drawing level, as Andrew Johnson met a corner with a thumping header which rattled the crossbar.

Taylor then had to be alert to tip away Johnson’s effort and the ball almost fell for Boyes, but it got stuck under his feet and Avenue scrambled it away.

The goalkeeper made a good double save denying Roberts and Johnson, before the pick of the bunch with 10 minutes left on the clock.

A shot had come in from Johnson and substitute Gavin Cogdon flicked it on from inside the six yard box, but Taylor reacted phenomenally to tip the ball over the bar.

Bradford were clinging on as Spennymoor had a huge number of late corners, Taylor tipping over from Nathan Buddle, and the sickening equaliser eventually came in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

A high ball in was headed down by Robert Ramshaw, and Boyes was unmarked six yards from goal, free to prod the ball past a helpless Taylor and rescue a point for the visitors.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Taylor, Bazeley, Calder, Wood (c), Lund, Heaton, Knight (Holmes 65), Marriott, Dockerty (Johnson 62), Hurst, Headley (Cresswell 73)

Subs not used: Gibbons, Bennett

Goal: Dockerty (11)

Booked: Bazeley (30), Johnson (83)

Spennymoor Town: Gould, Williams (Hibbs 50), Brogan, Chandler, Buddle, Curtis (c), McKenna, Ramshaw, Boyes, Roberts (Cogdon 76), Johnson

Subs not used: Mason, Atkinson, Webb

Goal: Boyes (90+5)

Referee: Andy Sykes

Attendance: 402

Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes

Bradford (Park Avenue) fell to a third successive defeat despite significant improvement away at in-form Boston.

Marcus Law’s men were the better side for much of the afternoon, defending admirably and creating the best chances, but two goals in two second half minutes led to an unfortunate defeat.

Brad Abbott and Jordan Thewlis capitalised to hand Boston their third win in four, substitute Brad Dockerty giving Avenue hope by pulling one back with six minutes to play, but the visitors just couldn’t find another goal to come away with what would have been a deserved point.

Bradford had the first opening of the match as they attempted to use the breakaway against their hosts, Isaac Marriott finding Alex Hurst who drove forward, but saw his shot from range comfortably saved by Peter Crook.

Avenue then had to throw one or two bodies on the line as the ball dropped following a Boston free-kick, but managed to break once more to create a hairy moment for the hosts.

The same pair combined and Hurst’s good run ended with his powerful cross just too far ahead of Lewis Knight.

Law’s men were struggling once more with discipline, Riccardo Calder booked early on before a poor Nelson Digbeu foul nearly cost them.

The referee was ready to give Avenue’s French defender a talking to, but the home side took the free-kick quickly and Brad Abbott sent a shot crashing wide of the near post.

Avenue were dealt a blow as Knight was forced off injured on the half-hour, but they should have gone ahead moments later on the end of a great move.

Calder, who had moved forward in the formation following Knight’s departure, drove into the box and cut back for Richard Cresswell, but the defender playing in attack skewed his shot when he should have scored.

The unusual number nine then had another chance after more good play between Hurst and Marriott saw the Huddersfield loanee get a good cross in which Cresswell met on the volley, but it deflected just wide of the near post.

Boston were being kept at bay by a sturdy Avenue defence, and the free-scoring side showed their frustration late in the first half, Tom Platt and Ainge firing high and wide from range.

The visitors continued to defend admirably into the second period, Ainge firing high and wide once more, but after a double substitution led to a dangerous spell, Boston took the lead.

Bradford had cleared three crosses in succession, but a high ball came in from Karl Byrne which Dominic Knowles headed down and Abbott arrived to finish into the bottom corner.

And moments later is was two as Avenue heads went down, Thewlis, one of those substitutes, picked up a loose ball and skipped past a challenge before finding Jack Bennett’s bottom corner.

Ainge had a real chance to seal the match, as he was allowed a free header from a corner, but he planted it firmly wide of the target.

With six minutes to play, Avenue brought themselves back into it.

Calder played an excellent deceptive ball over the top which was chased by Dockerty and fellow substitute Myron Gibbons, with the former left to simply touch the ball past Peter Crook and roll it into an empty net.

The goal caused a late rally from Avenue and Boston looked nervous, the hosts having to defend for their lives as Gibbons touched down for Hurst, but his shot couldn’t get through the crowd.

Bradford’s best chance late on came through the exceptional Calder, who took down a pass with a brilliant touch, working space for a shot which he fired just wide of the top corner from 20 yards.

In the end it wasn’t to be, but there were plenty of positives for Law’s men following a handful of disappointing performances.

Boston United: Crook, Byrne, Whittle, Thanoj (Adebayo-Smith 56), Ainge, Shiels (c), Platt, Abbott, Knowles (Green 69), Walker (Thewlis 56), Rollins

Subs not used: Willis, Jackson

Goals: Abbott (64), Thewlis (66)

Booked: Thanoj (53)

Bradford (Park Avenue): Bennett, Bazeley, Calder, Wood (c), Lund, Digbeu, Knight (Headley 31), Marriott, Cresswell (Gibbons 82), Hurst, Holmes (Dockerty 61)

Subs not used: None

Goal: Dockerty (84)

Booked: Calder (19), Cresswell (77), Marriott (78)

Referee: Scott Simpson

Attendance: 1,110 (47 visitors)

Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes