Bradford (Park Avenue) staged a remarkable comeback to draw 3-3 at home to Gainsborough Trinity yesterday, but that point was not enough to keep them in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, meaning they are unfortunately relegated for the second season in a row.

The hosts were still mathematically alive at the final whistle at Horsfall, only for rivals Basford United to keep themselves up with a 100th minute equaliser at champions Radcliffe, which sent both Avenue and Stafford Rangers down in the process.

It means Avenue’s final game next weekend, at Matlock Town, will be academic, as they prepare to spend the 2024/25 campaign alongside Liversedge, as well as possibly Brighouse Town, Campion or Albion Sports in the NPL East Division.

Avenue almost went 1-0 down straightaway yesterday, as goalkeeper Craig Ellison and captain Lucas Odunston got into a real mix-up at the back, only for the pair to have a massive let off when Declan Howe scuffed the ball wide of an empty net.

Avenue’s first chance of the game came with 15 minutes gone, when Mason O’Malley whipped a dangerous cross into the area in an attempt to find Adrian Thibaut, only for home keeper Dylan Wharton to claim the ball well.

The first goal of the game came just before the 20-minute mark, and it went to Gainsborough, as Howe took the ball around Ellison and found the back of the net from a tight angle.

Minutes later, the prolific Howe netted once again for Trinity, finding the back of the net with a fantastic volley.

Trinity managed to get all of their goals before half-time, as Fraser Preston scored his third of the season on 38 minutes.

Bradford desperately tried to gain a foothold before the break and after Harry Colville’s effort hit the side-netting, team-mate Ted Lavelle headed home O’Malley’s corner to pull the score back to 3-1.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Ted Lavelle (second right) scored Avenue's first goal as they slowly worked their way back into the game.Ted Lavelle (second right) scored Avenue's first goal as they slowly worked their way back into the game. (Image: John Rhodes.)

Just over an hour into the game, Trinity went down to ten men when Dylan Cogill was handed a red card, with that decision changing the course of the game.

Jake Daniels was quick to take advantage of that dismissal, netting Avenue’s second goal midway through the second half.

Daniels, on loan from Blackpool, scored a third goal for Avenue with 12 minutes to go, but they were unable to find that crucial winner that would have kept their season alive.