BRADFORD (Park Avenue) fought valiantly at King's Lynn Town last night in National League North, but the hosts showed their class to earn a 2-1 comeback win and go top of the table.

King's Lynn Town were the better side as the first 45 minutes wore on, but they could not find the breakthrough as the two sides went into the break goalless.

And lowly Avenue took a surprise lead when Will Longbottom put them in front early in the second half.

King's Lynn showed why they are fighting for the title with an almost-instant response from Aaron Cosgrave.

And the hosts won it midway through the second half through Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, the younger brother of Liverpool midfielder Alex.

Avenue started brightly, Brad Dockerty getting in behind the Town defence and forcing a save out of Paul Jones inside the first five minutes.

But the visitors suffered a blow on 15 minutes, when in-form striker Jordan Preston was forced off injured with a pulled hamstring.

Longbottom and Shane Maroodza were then both booked for Avenue as the hosts started to get on top.

They did not create any clear opportunities until just before half-time though, other than a strike which hit the side netting, but then a triple chance fell their way after 42 minutes.

Tom Hughes' mazy run into the box ended with him having a shot brilliantly blocked, Jordan Ponticelli hit the post when the ball broke to him, before George Sykes-Kenworthy produced a stunning stop to deny him from the rebound too.

If that was frustrating for King's Lynn, it got worse for them five minutes after the break, when Avenue took the lead.

Great work from Dockerty ended with him finding Longbottom, with the former Doncaster Rovers man finishing the chance off nicely.

Avenue were only ahead for less than five minutes though, as a bobbling ball in the box found its way to Cosgrave, who levelled the scores.

Longbottom headed just over as Avenue attempted to retake the lead immediately, but Oxlade-Chamberlain instead put King's Lynn in front after 68 minutes.

Avenue gave him too much time on the edge of the box, and his cross-cum-shot nestled into the corner.

Longbottom and Sam Fielding came close soon after, the former firing just off target and the latter seeing a shot bravely blocked.

King's Lynn substitute Josh Barrett then tested Sykes-Kenworthy, before Avenue came agonisingly close to a leveller with two minutes to go.

Town failed to clear a free-kick, and with the ball bobbling around in the box, Avenue captain Luca Havern fired a shot in on goal in the melee, only for Jones to make a sensational stop with his outstretched leg.

That was Avenue's last chance, as they came away with a defeat from their long trip down to Norfolk.

They are now just three points clear of the drop zone, after Kettering Town moved out of the bottom four with a 3-2 win over Boston United, the latter replacing them in the relegation places after that defeat.

After the game, Avenue manager Mark Bower said: "I thought we did really well, and were pretty resolute defensively.

"We were disappointed with the goals we conceded though, and with Luca having that great chance right at the end too, we're bitterly disappointed and frustrated not to take anything from the game, because I think we deserved to.

"If we play how we did here though, we'll keep picking up points, which is all we need to do to stay up."