Ossett Town 0, Bradford Park Avenue 6

Avenue let the New Year in with some style yesterday as they spanked neighbours Ossett Town with six of the best.

The visitors dominated both halves against the team managed by a former Avenue stalwart and featuring several former Bradford players. Both halves ended 3-0 to the marauding Avenue.

Bradford chairman John Dean was highly impressed, saying: “It could not be a better start to the new year because of the comprehensive nature of the performance, as much as the result.

“The supporters who made the short journey were saying they had not seen Avenue play as well in a long time.

"They felt it was exhibition stuff at times and, to be frank, I don’t know how John Deacey does it. He seems to have the knack of getting the best of any player in his squad.”

Avenue certainly wasted no time in breaking the deadlock at Ossett as they took the lead in the eighth minute.

A cross from Stephen Downes picked out Tom Greaves and he headed home. If Avenue needed confirmation that it was to be their day, it came in the space of two minutes.

Having just taken the lead, Avenue conceded a penalty when returning centre back James Knowles committed a foul in the area.

Mark Bett, the former Avenue man who had earned Town an unlikely win in the reverse fixture at Horsfall, stepped forward but fired over from the spot.

From then on, it was all Avenue as they cantered to the three points that lifted them to sixth in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.

Just minutes after the penalty miss, Avenue had the ball in the Town net again but Aidan Savory was adjudged offside.

It was merely a setback because just before the half- hour, the visitors had doubled their advantage. Steve Burton got a flick on and Adam Clayton took the ball on before hitting a shot that took a slight deflection on its way in.

The final goal of the first half came when Savory was picked out by a through ball and he took it in his stride. With no other forwards available, he held it up before lashing in a shot on the turn.

On the hour, Luke Gibson netted the fourth with a superb dipping volley that that left the Town keeper grasping at thin air.

With the game won, Deacey could make changes and there was a run out for Rob O’Brien, who was on the bench for the first time since breaking a leg in a pre-season friendly.

The midfielder played a part in the fifth goal as he took a pass from Downes, who had broken down an Ossett attack, and found Brice Tiani, who applied the final touch.

Just three minute later, Greaves, who had started the scoring, finished it with a shot following a Tiani cross.

Dean added: “The only thing that marred the day was seeing Knowles, who was excellent, come off late on hobbling. I would think he is the only doubt for tomorrow's home game against Northwich Victoria.

“It will be a stiffer challenge than yesterday but if we win that one as well it will put us right back in the hunt for the play-offs.”