Bradford (Park Avenue) emphatically beat Sherwood Colliery

The goals came courtesy of four players who have all arrived at Horsfall over the last few weeks, in Jack Goodman, Ted Lavelle, Iyrwah Gooden and Brad Williams.

Since beating Bridlington at the end of October, Avenue had only picked up two points from their previous three games.

But they ended that wobble in style at the weekend, taking themselves within three points of the play-offs with a game in hand.

With only 10 minutes gone on Saturday, Avenue got on the front foot as Connor Shanks got the ball into the box.

He appeared to have played the ball against the defender's hand but the referee waved away the strong penalty appeals.

Minutes later, Avenue took the lead anyway when the ball was played in behind the Sherwood back line.

Goodman raced on to it, beat the one covering defender, and then had no trouble scoring from close range.

Avenue quickly doubled their lead when the ball fell to Lavelle just inside of the box.

He had all the time in the world to line up his shot and had no problem smashing it past the Sherwood keeper.

Ted Lavelle blasts the ball into the Sherwood net to double Avenue's lead on Saturday. (Image: John Rhodes.)

With half an hour gone Avenue earned a penalty but Goodman struck it wide, keeping Sherwood just about in the game.

The last action of the first half saw Avenue nearly increase their lead when Connor Dimaio hit a cracker from a distance, only to be denied by visiting stopper Jordan Pierrepont.

Avenue continued to try and get that third goal after the break and with only five minutes of the second half gone, Shanks put a delightful low ball across goal, only for it to somehow evade everyone in the middle.

Minutes later, Sherwood got their first real chance of the game when Harry Birchumshaw's effort curled an effort towards the top right corner, which Jack Hall was equal to in the Avenue goal.

With an hour of the game gone, Gooden got in on the action when he bundled the ball into the back of the net from close range.

Dan Francis congratulates Iyrwah Gooden (second right) after the latter put Avenue out of sight on Saturday. (Image: John Rhodes.)

But Sherwood did not give up and soon earned a penalty as home keeper Hall was adjudged to have fouled his man in the box.

Unlike Goodman earlier in the game, Mason Lee held his nerve from the spot, reducing the deficit to 3-1 for his side.

With only five minutes of the game left, Sherwood had Robson Doolan sent off for a second bookable offence, as he made a poor tackle on the edge of his own box, and Avenue almost immediately put the game to bed moments later.

Substitute Paddy Sykes received the ball about 20 yards out and played it across to Williams on the right, who managed to smash it into the far-right corner.

This coming weekend, Avenue visit mid-table Carlton United, knowing a win could see them edge back into the play-off places.