Bradford Park Avenue 2, Radcliffe Borough 2

An injury-time strike looked to have secured Avenue their eighth straight league win - only for Radcliffe to equalise even later.

Chris Gaghan's goal seemed certain to continue the home side's great run against the UniBond Division One North's bottom team, despite having been reduced to ten men.

But while the celebrations were still in full swing, Boro made their smash and grab at the other end with a goal from Martin Forrest.

"I'm still trying to work out how we didn't get three points from that one," said Bradford boss Benny Phillips.

"In fact, it feels like a defeat. The euphoria of what the players thought was the winner turned to depression within a minute because they switched off.

"It was so late into injury time when we scored that they thought that was it.

"It just proves you have to remain focused right until the final whistle."

Phillips admitted that his side's poor showing in the first half was as much to blame as anything.

He said: "It was our own fault in a way because we had too many slow starters in this game and because of that, we were off the pace in the first half.

"I think that is absolutely down to the fact that we hadn't played for over a fortnight going into the game. People were saying to me earlier in the week that we were playing the bottom club and we'd walk it.

"I warned them then that Radcliffe are a good side. They proved that here by defending as they did.

"You couldn't argue with their approach, it was up to us to break them down and we didn't do it quickly enough."

Boro were awarded a soft free-kick in the first minute and Avenue's defence did not clear it effectively.

A subsequent cross from Michael Murray found Lee Connell unmarked in the area and he netted a half volley to stun the hosts.

With just one minute and ten seconds gone, Avenue were chasing the game. Radcliffe, on the other hand, were content to sit back. They had five across the back which meant their wing backs had freedom to launch counter-attacks.

It took Avenue a while to decipher that but they were the still better side. Any creativity there was in the game came from the home players. They were still a goal down at the interval but it seemed only a matter of time before that would alter.

It changed with a shrill blast from the referee's whistle as Mike Moseley was brought down in the area in the 50th minute. Darren Hockenhull stepped forward to drill the penalty into the bottom corner.

The number of shots on target and corners forced by Avenue went into double figures but they endured a setback in the 70th minute.

Centre back Matt Daly was judged to be the last man when he stopped Glyn Barker just outside the box and he received the mandatory red card.

Avenue's resolve became more intense but it was not until deep into the second minute of the four added on that they edged in front.

And when it came, it was a flash of individual brilliance that unlocked the stoic Boro defence. Winger Gaghan rifled a shot into the top corner after a slalom run.

The roof was lifted off and it was still high into the wintry night sky when Boro's Forrest brought things back to earth with a bump as he converted a speculative cross with a fine header.