Bradford Park Avenue 3, Warrington Town 1

Park Avenue were given a massive scare by their lower-ranking visitors but made it through to today’s third qualifying round draw after they came from goal down, despite losing their captain early on through injury.

Town may be struggling at the wrong end of Evo-Stik League Division One North but they led as early as the first minute after a penalty.

A weak backpass from skipper James Knowles sold home keeper John Lamb short and he raced off his line to clear.

The referee felt he had fouled Town forward Anthony Hickey as he smothered the ball and the striker netted the resulting spot-kick. Lamb escaped with a yellow card.

Knowles had to be withdrawn with less than a quarter of the game gone and replaced by Nathan Hotte, leaving Bradford boss John Deacey unimpressed.

He said: “I’m fuming. It was never a penalty, not a foul by our keeper, but he should never have been put in that position.

“When one of our most experienced players tells me he is fit and obviously isn’t then it’s not a good situation.

“I have signed Amjad Iqbal and he will be playing our next game at centre back. I can promise that because he is fit.

“Because we were caught asleep in the first minute and the other things that went against us, we were up against it.”

Ross Daly had to drop back from midfield to centre back and it took the revamped line-up a while to settle.

Avenue levelled the tie just before the break. It had been coming as the home side ramped up the pressure and a concerted attack produced the equaliser. Aiden Savory provided the final ball and Richard Marshall completed the move with a low drive.

More graft and craft was needed to break down the visitors, who were obviously enjoying their break from league action.

They raised their game and it took Avenue until the 69th minute to edge in front.

It was the same one-two as Savory’s knock down from a corner gave Marshall an unmissable tap-in.

The result was put beyond doubt in the 83rd minute when substitute Law raced into the area and slotted a shot past the on-rushing keeper.

His goal earned praise from Deacey, who also credited another substitute for his impact.

He said: “Two 17-year-olds have come off the bench to rescue us. Jordan Deacey and Billy Law have turned this tie on its head late on and it’s them who earned us a place in the next round.”