Bradford (Park Avenue) drop points against Bishop Auckland

Paddy Sykes put Bradford in front shortly before half-time, but John Howard equalised for the visitors with 15 minutes to go, and it was they who came agonisingly close to finding a winner.

Yet with just over 10 minutes gone, Avenue were controlling the game.

After a series of corners which unfortunately amounted to nothing, Connor Shanks then spun to hit a half volley on the edge of the box, which went wide.

Bishop Auckland had their first good chance when Louis Johnson was played through on goal only for veteran centre-half Mark Beevers to brilliantly prevent any danger.

Minutes later, Avenue had their best chance so far, when Jimiel Chikukwa charged forward and played Sonny Whittingham through.

But he fired the ball over the bar causing no trouble to keeper Ryan Catterick.

Jimiel Chikukwa should have had a first-half assist to his name against Bishop Auckland. (Image: John Rhodes.)

With just over half an hour gone, Shanks looked bound to score when he burst into the box, but Catterick was equal to his disappointing effort.

The in form Sykes showed him how it was done when he opened the scoring on 39 minutes.

Shanks received the ball in the box, before playing it across perfectly to Sykes, who had the simple task of turning it into the net from close range.

The last action of the first half saw Bishop Auckland try to level the score line when Howard shot from near the penalty spot, but Avenue keeper Jack Hall was able to wave the ball wide.

Avenue started the second half quickest and almost took advantage of a Bishop mix up at the back.

Substitute keeper Adam Lincoln inadvertently passed the ball straight to Whittingham, but he could only put the gilt-edged chance over the bar.

Minutes later, Avenue were back in a dangerous position when Kareem Hassan-Smith made a great run, however Lincoln made a great save to atone for his earlier error.

Auckland were trying to get themselves on the score sheet as Howard flashed in an effort that flew past Hall but wide of the far post.

With just over 15 minutes of the game left, the visitors finally found the back of the net with a fine goal.

A great ball across from the right was met by Howard, who showed real determination to get between a posse of defenders and thunder a header past a helpless Hall into the net.

Hassan-Smith almost immediately restored Avenue’s lead, but he flashed his shot wide of the goal.

Marauding wide man Kareem Hassan-Smith was his usual threatening self in attack. (Image: John Rhodes.)

Moments before the final whistle, Avenue had a lucky escape when Howard headed the ball wide from close range.

In the dying seconds, Bishop Auckland came within inches of winning the game, as Cyril Giraud cut inside the box, but Avenue had a lucky escape as he fired his shot over the bar.

The draw sees Avenue slip to sixth in the table, outside of the play-offs on goal difference, ahead of a tough trip to eighth-placed Newton Aycliffe this coming Saturday.