BRADFORD (Park Avenue) were defeated in an exciting five-goal thriller against Spennymoor Town at Brewery Field on Saturday, despite taking an early lead.

The National League North clash began brightly for the visiting side, as they went in front courtesy of a Reece Kendall own goal.

Just before the half-time break, Kendall made up for that mishap by producing a precise header which crept into the bottom-left corner.

The hosts took the lead with around 15 minutes to go as Glen Taylor’s close-range volley flew past George Sykes-Kenworthy, taking his tally to 11 goals for the season.

Jason Ainsley’s side later doubled their lead in the closing stages, Taylor’s neat assist allowing Rob Ramshaw to fire in Spennymoor's third.

Mark Bower's side got a late consolation after a lapse of concentration from the hosts left Avenue captain Luca Havern in a goalscoring position, from which he clinically tucked away, despite Dan Langley getting a hand to it.

But there was to be no dramatic turnaround, with the result leaving Avenue in 18th place and only three points above the relegation zone.

Bower was forced into a tough decision in the early stages, after Mitch Lund pulled up with an injury. He was soon replaced by Harrison Hopper.

But an otherwise positive start to the match from Avenue was rewarded when Kendall’s defensive header from a set-piece was misjudged and looped over the stranded Langley for an own goal.

Callum Ross was the penalised for a rough tackle on Hopper and shown a yellow card as Spennymoor struggled to gain a foothold in the game.

Despite being second best in the first half, the hosts levelled just before the break.

Paul Blackett’s whipped cross was met by an advancing Kendall, who placed his header out of the reach of an outstretched Sykes-Kenworthy.

The visitors started the second half in the same fashion as the first, as a strike from Will Longbottom destined for the corner was tipped past the post.

The Moors nearly had another defensive disaster when Ryan Wombwell’s attempted clearance rocketed against their crossbar but luckily for them it didn’t result in another own goal.

Eventually, the hosts were rewarded for their battling defensive display and composure as they instead took the lead.

Kendall set up top-scorer Taylor nicely, who took his chance by volleying the ball into the Bradford net.

With five minutes remaining, Spennymoor secured victory courtesy of Ramshaw and though Havern netted in injury-time to give Avenue faint hope of taking a point back to Bradford, unfortunately the skipper's strike came too late.