BRADFORD (Park Avenue) salvaged a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at Blyth Spartans and force an FA Cup second qualifying round replay.
Harry Colville netted an 82nd-minute equaliser for the Northern Premier League Premier Division side, as they now get set to bring their higher-ranked opponents to Horsfall tonight.
It was a bad start for Avenue, who lost Jak Whiting to injury after only 13 minutes, then soon went behind.
Elliot Forbes breezed past Will Lancaster on the right to deliver an enticing cross.
The ball bounced around the penalty area, causing a scramble before Jack Bodenham struck a ferocious effort into the bottom left corner past the helpless George Sykes-Kenworthy to break the deadlock.
JJ Hooper headed over a great chance to double Blyth’s lead, but then Will Longbottom was denied, as Alex Mitchell produced a stunning save from point-blank range after the Avenue man got in behind.
Jordan Preston fired narrowly wide from the resulting set-piece, before Blyth created two chances before the break.
Hooper steered a shot inches just past the post, before Cedric Main cracked an effort inches over the bar.
After a couple of half-chances at the start of the second half for the hosts, Brad Dockerty came close for Avenue, firing a strike into the side netting.
Main crashed two attempts just over as Blyth looked to put the game to bed, but Avenue survived to stay in the game.
They grew in confidence as a result, as Mitchell almost gifted them an equaliser with his handling from a cross, before Preston was denied by the keeper at his near post.
Colville’s cross was then headed on to the post by Preston, before the former went from near-provider to goalscorer.
Just eight minutes were left when Colville’s cross-cum-shot from long range out on the right deceived Mitchell and looped into the top corner.
Main and Harry Arnison almost broke Bradford hearts late on, but they were unable to test Sykes-Kenworthy when they should have done better.
Chinedu Osadebe had a chance to win it for Avenue too, but he was denied in a one-on-one with Mitchell, meaning a replay was needed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here