Wakefield 2, Bradford Park Avenue 3

Avenue got back to winning ways with a deserved maximum at Wakefield that takes them into Tuesday's home game against Newcastle Blue Star in fine spirits.

After drawing their previous two games, the Bradford side pulled their holiday period around and extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 games.

At 3-1 up with just two minutes remaining, Avenue were cruising but they encountered a nervous finale when Wakefield pulled one back.

"It was absolutely fantastic to win and I thought we des-erved it but it was closer than it should have been after they scored late on," said delighted Avenue boss Benny Phillips.

"They scored with the last kick of the first half and that could have deflated us but we were strong. It keeps us in the mix and it makes those two draws in the earlier games more precious.

"We had three tough fixtures in a week, two were away from home, but we have come through with pride and our unbeaten run intact. If someone would have offered me a 13-game run without a defeat I would have taken it, even with the draws here and there."

Avenue opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Andy Lee began the move, Paul Gedman provided the cross and Mike Moseley tucked the ball home.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time in the first half Graham Marchant equalised for Wakefield.

The Bradford side got back in front following a 53rd-minute corner. Chris Gaghan whipped the flag-kick in and Matt Daly headed in from six yards.

The visitors began to dominate and with less than 20 minutes remaining, Avenue stretched their lead to 3-1. Again, it was an Andy Lee run on the left flank that started the move. His cross after a burst of pace just eluded Gedman but Gaghan was racing in at the far post and slid the ball in.

Skipper Steve Connors shot just over and Tom Baker, sent clear by a combination of Gedman and Ross Clegg, was presented with a one-on-one. The midfielder tried to lift the ball over the home keeper but a trailing leg deflected the ball wide.

Those misses almost came back to kick Avenue up the backside. Wakefield launched a quick counter-attack and Marchant claimed his second.

Two minutes of normal time and the four of stoppage time seemed endless for Avenue but they held on for their deserved three points.