Bradford Park Avenue 3 Yorkshire Amateurs 1

An under-strength Avenue were too good for a battling Yorkshire Amateur side at Horsfall Stadium last night as they booked a West Riding County Cup second-round tie with Farsley Celtic.

Avenue scored three excellent goals and all without half their regulars.

Leading scorer Neil Ross, former Premiership star Neil Redfearn, skipper Lee Connor and player-coach Richard Chattoe were all missing. Added to that, defender Steve Robinson was serving a one-match ban and David Cooke was an unused substitute.

Even so, it took Avenue just seven minutes to take the lead.

Tom Greaves reached a through ball before the visitors' keeper and though his route to goal was blocked Simon Rawnsley snapped up the loose ball and calmly slotted low into the corner.

More chances followed but Avenue had to wait until the 50th minute to add a second, but it was worth the wait. Paul Helliwell delivered a pinpoint corner and Simon Parke netted a towering header from 12 yards.

The third in the 77th minute was even better. A cross from substitute Ian Beckram was met by a cushioned header from Jamie Longley and Helliwell lashed it home on the volley from just inside the area.

The visitors kept plugging away and robbed Avenue of a clean sheet ten minutes from time when Layton McHale finished from the near post following a corner.

"It was nice to get the chance to bring a few of the young lads on and let them play a big part in a first-team game. The only thing I would say is that we should have scored more goals," said Avenue boss Phil Sharpe.

In another first-round tie tonight, Liversedge travel to Garforth Town.

Eugene Lacy's side have already drawn first blood, beating Garforth 4-2 at Clayborn in the first league meeting between the clubs this season.

The other local clubs have got byes.