Bradford Park Avenue 0, Harrogate Town 1

Avenue slipped out of this season’s West Riding County Cup with a whimper at home to Conference North near-neighbours Harrogate Town tonight.

Following today's FA Trophy third-qualifying round draw, which pitched these two clubs together again, it should have been a chance to gain a psychological advantage for the forthcoming bigger knockout tie.

In truth, it was a very low-key curtain raiser as both managers seemed to want to keep their powder dry.

With home and away league games to come and the Trophy tie looming a week on Saturday, there are arguably bigger fish to fry later in the campaign.

The first half was fairly uneventful, the only real chance of note coming when Adam Clayton headed a Richard Marshall corner at visiting keeper Craig McGilvery.

Avenue made two changes at the break, which livened up the home side, and the second half was better entertainment for the hardy souls on the terraces.

Alex Davidson had the ball in the net for Avenue but the assistant referee had spotted he was in an offside position.

The home side were later awarded a penalty when Nathan Hotte’s ball into the area struck an arm but Davidson’s effort from the spot was too close to McGilvery.

With just under two minutes remaining and everyone at Horsfall Stadium thinking about extra time, Town produced the only goal of the game.

Good work on the flank by Cleveland Taylor saw him get a cross in and Craig Nelthorpe netted from point-blank range.