Bradford Park Avenue 2

Stocksbridge PS 0

Park Avenue successfully defended their unbeaten home record and climbed back to joint third in UniBond Division One at Horsfall Stadium last night.

A penalty midway through the first half in an incident which saw the visitors reduced to ten men set them on the way and a goal two minutes from time sealed the points.

Stocksbridge fought hard despite the dismissal and made Avenue work for the win. Manager Trevor Storton said: "The important thing is that we won. There are a lot of points to be won and lost and we are still in the running for promotion."

Last night saw the return to action of regular goalkeeper Gavin Kelly, though Matt Baker, currently on loan from Hull City, was on the bench as cover.

Kelly was soon in the action, smothering a shot from Gary Hurlstone after just ten minutes with former Bradford City player Chris Dalby ready to pounce on any rebound.

Stephen Ball's 22nd minute chip looked certain to break the deadlock, but with Stocksbridge keeper Andy Carney out of position defender Rick Holmshaw leapt to palm the ball over the crossbar.

Referee Chris Murphy had little option but to dismiss him and award a spot kick, which Ball converted.

The ten men bounced back well to create two chances for Carl Fothergill within four minutes but could not break through.

Martin McClennon - twice - Mark Wilson and Mark Hancock, who struck the base of the post with a low drive, all had chances to stretch Avenue's lead before the interval.

With just over a minute remaining, Ball crossed into the area, Pemberton knocked it back across the face of the goal and substitute Gary Edmunds turned in Avenue's second.

Bradford Park Avenue: Kelly, Wilson, James, Bagshaw, Pemberton, Verity, Hancock, Benn, McClennon, Maxwell, Ball. Subs: Denney, Edmunds, Baker.

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