Brighouse earned a confidence-boosting 1-0 victory over higher ranking friendly visitors Bradford Park Avenue.

Avenue had created the better chances and looked strong throughout but Town bagged the spoils with a late goal.

The visitors did not have the best of luck in front of goal, or in general.

Bradford keeper Ben Scott was injured before the midway point of the first half and there was no cover on the bench.

Town had former Bantams youth player Dan Taylor among their substitutes and he became an ‘emergency loan signing’ for the visitors, such is the way of pre-season games.

There was just as much make do and mend about the winning strike.

Town’s Darryl Leach had already been substituted when circumstances forced him back into the action for the last ten minutes.

When Dave Phelps’ 88th-minute cross was knocked back into the area by Danny Hull, it fell to Leach, who drilled home a volley.

Town boss Mark Brier was not fooled by the result. He said: “I’m delighted by the win but not getting carried away in the slightest.

“I have to be truthful and say the first 15 minutes were all Avenue and our keeper had to save a penalty and make four other top-class stops.

“What did please me was our fitness and the way we were able to stay with a top side like Avenue in a physical and competitive game.

“Avenue looked technically and man-for-man the better side, and quite rightly so. It was a great work-out for us and the result was an unexpected bonus.”