Bishop's Stortford 2 Bradford Park Avenue 1

On the day that City’s play-off place was sealed, Avenue’s play-off hopes were dashed following a defeat at relegation-threatened Bishop’s Stortford.

The home side were not mathematically safe of the drop zone before Saturday’s game but a narrow victory eased their fears while crushing Bradford’s dream of back-to-back promotions.

A good save by Blues keeper Carl Pentney denied Avenue skipper Nathan Hotte, after a good through ball from Jordan Deacey, but Deacey was forced off soon after with a knee injury.

Avenue got the breakthrough from a 35th-minute free-kick. Richard Marshall’s strike appeared to take a deflection as it beat Pentney on his near post.

Minutes later Avenue keeper John Lamb made a fine parry and Michael Duckworth cleared off the line to avert the danger.

However, the home side went into the break on level terms. Bishop’s skipper Reece Prestedge controlled a through-ball and zipped past two defenders before finding the bottom corner.

Just after the hour mark the home side fashioned the goal that proved to be the winner. A teasing cross was chested down and fed to Adam Bailey-Dennis and he slotted in from the edge of the six-yard box.

Bradford boss John Deacey could name only three substitutes from his injury-hit squad and he had already used Danny Holland when Jordan Deacey was forced off midway through the first half.

The manager put on-loan Bantams forward Adam Baker on for midfielder Ross Daly and in a final throw of the dice sent assistant manager Mark Hume on in place of Jamie Price.

The big centre back played up front and was involved in some feisty exchanges, especially in the five minutes of added time, but there was to be no Roy of the Rovers finish for Deacey’s number two.