Vauxhall 2, Park Avenue 0

Bradford Park Avenue's run of three consecutive victories was brought to a tame and agonising end by Vauxhall GM at Rivacre Park.

Going into the game Avenue and the newly-promoted Ellesmere Port club were in an exclusive clique of five teams unbeaten in the UniBond Division One this season.

Both sides had only drawn once so a stalemate looked highly unlikely. Something had to give but the Bradford fans who made the journey to Merseyside will have been wondering why it was the resolve of their side.

On the ropes at times in a tense but even first period, Avenue's fans made their way back across the Pennines completely mystified by their side's complete capitulation in the second half.

While the honours were shared in that first 45 minutes of honest sweat and toil, the points were handed to the home side by a spiritless, inept display in a poor second half.

Vauxhall started well in this first-ever meeting between the sides, but it was home keeper Steve Hilton who was put to work first after just six minutes when he showed lightning reactions to push a Phil Denney header over the bar following a good cross into the six-yard box from Martin James.

The when a Paul Marquis header from Stephen Ball's 20th minute corner had Hilton beaten, Vauxhall midfielder Carl Spellman was on hand to hack it off the line.

Dean Calcutt was having a storming game for Avenue and he also came close before the first half ended with two good efforts from the home side.

Fierce shots from just outside the area from Kevin Lynch and Greg Blundell, the second of which had Avenue keeper Gavin Kelly stretching to palm over the ball, left Avenue in no doubt that the home side were dangerous on the attack.

A brief spell of pressure from Avenue at the beginning of the second half flattered to deceive and once Vauxhall took a 59th minute lead they never allowed themselves a vulnerable moment and stormed to victory.

A good run from Lynch saw him lay on Vauxhall's first goal for Nicky Young with an angled drive.

The impressive Lynch was later named man-of-the-match after setting up the second in the 75th minute.

Another tricky run took him into the area and he chipped the ball up for Blundell who beat Kelly with a free header.