Park Avenue 1 Worksop Town 0

 Avenue stayed in pole position for the one automatic promotion place but they had to live on their nerves to bank a maximum against struggling Worksop.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, both sides struck the woodwork but it was the home side that snatched the all-important goal. They held onto their lead but did commit the cardinal sin of missing from the penalty spot.

When the match-winner did come it was a strike worthy of winning any game and the home supporters, who numbered nearly 500, almost lifted the roof off Horsfall Stadium.

The afternoon’s tension did not bypass Bradford boss John Deacey, who said: “That was a difficult game and a very hard-won three points but you are going to get games like that, especially at this stage of the season.

“Obviously I was disappointed with the penalty miss but you can’t criticise Stephen Downes just for that because he has been magnificent all season. He was good in this game, in fact I think all the lads were.

“Had we gone 2-0 up it would have given us a bit of breathing space but I always believed we could still win the game and we defended well when it was called for.”

The goalless first period was largely forgettable but there were two noteworthy incidents, the first when Luke Gibson’s early 30-yard effort that flashed wide and the second a rare error by Amjad Iqbal. The centre back recovered to make a challenge but was injured and substituted minutes later.

Avenue broke the deadlock just before the hour when yet another attack looked destined for a frustrating lack of end product. A ball half cleared fell to Rob O’Brien, who looked set to blast it before looking up and electing a chip shot that sailed over the diving keeping into the top corner.

The penalty, for a shove on Simon Baldry while the Avenue skipper was jumping for a header, was awarded in the 73rd minute, which Downes blazed high over the bar.

Striker Chris Hall had already hit the face of the bar by then but Worksop’s Luke Shields saw an overhead kick strike the bar and go over following a 78th-minute free kick.

There was a late setback for Avenue when substitute Aiden Savory, who could have claimed a hat-trick in his brief cameo, was himself forced off with injury.

Deacey said: “Amjad has injured his groin but Aiden could be a more long term worry because he pulled a hamstring. I had hoped to have Ryan Serrant in the squad next time. We didn’t get his registration back in time for this game.”