A SPECTACULAR late show from Bradford (Park Avenue) earned them a superb 3-0 win at Stocksbridge Park Steels in the Northern Premier League East Division last night.
Academy product Myles La Bastide netted his first goal of the season on 75 minutes to open the scoring, then quickly added his second, before Paddy Sykes added a flourish to the scoreline at the death.
But Avenue were only in that position after doing the hard yards in defence, while also relying on talented young stopper Jack Hall, on the eve of his 20th birthday.
The on-loan Sheffield Wednesday keeper kept out a first-half penalty from Stocksbridge, and also made a couple of fine saves to ensure he made it two clean sheets from two since arriving at the club.
The defeat for high-flying Stocksbridge was their first in the league since August 24.
In awful weather conditions down in South Yorkshire, Avenue made the better start, with Jack Normanton firing an early strike over the bar.
The visitors came agonisingly close to taking the lead when Paddy Sykes headed Kareem Hassan-Smith’s cross towards goal, but Tom Charlesworth was there to brilliantly clear the ball off the line.
Hall then took a knock on the quarter-hour mark but quickly recovered after treatment from physio Bradley Smith, which proved vital 10 minutes later.
Avenue conceded a penalty, but their young keeper was on hand to deny Alex Hardwick from 12 yards.
That was the closest either side came until late on, with Hall and his opposite number Ben Townsend making a couple of great saves to keep out their opposition.
Stocksbridge looked most likely to score in the second half, but after digging deep in defence, now marshalled by former Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton man Mark Beevers, Avenue got their rewards.
La Bastide has shown promise ever since graduating from the club’s academy a couple of years but he had not had chance to make an impression yet this season.
The young forward certainly made up for lost time last night, scoring just three minutes after being brought on for Normanton.
He repeated the trick on 81 minutes, as Stocksbridge were left stunned by his quick one-two.
And Sykes finished Stocksbridge off once and for all, as he found the net for his first league goal of the season.
The win keeps Avenue eighth, but they are now only a point off the play-offs ahead of this Saturday’s home game against second-bottom Sheffield FC.
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