Bradford Park Avenue 3, Nantwich Town 2

Avenue secured back-to-back victories over Nantwich but made it difficult for themselves in Saturday’s follow-up episode.

They could have earned all six points far more comfortably had they taken their chances in the two games.

Avenue won 1-0 in Cheshire the previous week and at Horsfall Stadium they again won by a single-goal margin.

But that did not perturb ultra-positive manager John Deacey, who said: “A win is a win and I’m delighted. I could over-analyse the situation but I won’t because I’m not really bothered.

“I wish we were scoring more goals but we are creating the chances and because of that we have deserved these two wins.

“Nantwich are a tough team. They will go to places and take points off a lot of teams this season – but we won’t be one of them.

“Our central midfield pairing were superb, Rob O’Brien and Jamie Price working very hard. We were having a lot of success down the right as well with Stephen Downes and Simon Baldry, who caused Nantwich just as much trouble at their place.”

A subdued opening spell gave way to a procession of Avenue chances before the game burst into life with three goals in an eight-minute spell.

The deadlock was broken in the 26th minute from a set-piece but both sides soon proved they could score from open play.

A free-kick from Martin Drury dipped over the wall but Town’s diving keeper parried it on the line. Mark Hume, starting at centre back with Amjad Iqbal away on Pakistan international duty, clipped the loose ball into the goalmouth but, after Aiden Savory’s effort was blocked on the line, Baldry chipped the ball in over the heap of bodies in front of him.

Just after the half hour, Avenue’s defence went to sleep and Dave McPherson made space for himself before slotting in the equaliser.

Avenue went on the attack from the restart and Savory put them back in front with a downward header following Baldry’s cross.

The home side started the second half well and doubled their lead after seven minutes of one-way traffic.

Hume, who had been unfortunate to see a header crash off the underside of the bar and the ball hacked clear in the previous minute, swept it in after a good move and low centre by Baldry.

Avenue had more chances but the game drifted through a scrappy spell and Town netted a gift goal with five minutes and stoppage time remaining to put unnecessary pressure on the hosts.

It was a silly free-kick to concede 22 yards from goal but a sublime finish as Jake Sedgemore rattled it in off the underside of the bar.