Bradford Park Avenue 3, Nantwich Town 1 Bradford Park Avenue whipped up a storm to blow their visitors away with two goals inside the opening four minutes as they eased to victory over promotion rivals Nantwich Town at a blustery Horsfall Stadium.

The whirlwind start had more to do with Avenue’s attitude than the strong wind.

“That was a fantastic performance,” said boss John Deacey. “I felt we were in control throughout and full credit to every one of our players. They have done exactly what we asked.

“It might have looked as though the wind helped us dominate the first half but it was obvious that wasn’t the case as we came at Nantwich strong again after half-time. How we didn’t score again in that second half is a mystery to me but that’s what we do. We create chances and take a small percentage of them, I’m sure they do it to put me through the mill.”

Avenue and Tom Greaves had the perfect start as Michael Duckworth drove in a low centre in the second minute and last season’s top scorer swept it in at the back post. Minutes later a Nicky Boshell corner bounced in the area and the visitors’ centre back Rod McDonald inadvertently headed the ball past his own keeper.

Greaves should have added to his tally but planted a header wide before Avenue ended the game as a contest in the 20th minute. Good build-up play involving some very crisp, neat passing ended with Nathan Hotte netting a 14-yard shot that curled in on the wind.

The remainder of the first period was one-way traffic with Town’s keeper Jon Briane not even able to reach the half way line with his goal kicks as the visitors attempted to clear their lines against the fierce headwind.

There was a lesson is store for the visitors as Avenue started the second period very brightly. They tried to keep the ball on the floor and build from the back and it almost paid off when a good low centre spun up from a desperate defender’s challenge and dropped just over the bar for an Avenue corner.

A gilt-edged chance followed soon after but following a good move Richard Marshall elected to shoot rather than lay the ball wide to the unmarked Greaves. The shot ballooned over the target.

Just after the hour the visitors got their consolation strike following a wayward pass in midfield. The ball was intercepted and threaded through to Dennis Sherrif who curled a shot around home keeper John Lamb.