Bradford Park Avenue 1, Curzon Ashton 2

An entertaining match was spoiled by some strange refereeing decisions as Curzon Ashton ended Avenue's ten-game unbeaten league run in this clash of the titans.

For almost an hour the game was the classic that was widely expected between these two title rivals but the match descended into a farce as the man in the middle made some shocking decisions.

The match was finely-balanced when he gifted Curzon a penalty which put them 2-0 up.

Avenue have not drawn a blank in a league game this season but they would have done here but for another controversial decision when he over-ruled an offside decision from the assistant-referee.

And the referee also sent a Curzon player off following a mass brawl with both sides telling him he had singled out the wrong man.

Avenue created early chances and went close from a Tom Baker free-kick and headers from Paul Gedman - Stuart Howson stabbing the loose ball just wide - and Mike Moseley.

Curzon responded when the league's leading scorer Micky Norton fired into the midriff of Avenue keeper Jon Worsnop. Soon after a corner from Rhodri Giggs - younger brother and spitting image of Welsh wizard Ryan - was hacked out of the goalmouth.

Paul Stoneman turned a misguided Avenue free-kick into a dangerous one with a superb volley but Ashton keeper David Carnell made a very good save.

Ashton then stunned the home supporters by taking the lead just five minutes before the break.

It was a deep corner from their skipper Chris Curley that had Worsnop dithering, Giggs' presence at the far post prevented a clearance and Norton drilled into the bottom corner from just inside the area.

The controversy surrounding the referee - who had enjoyed a good first half - began just before the hour when the he gifted Curzon a penalty.

Stoneman was watching the ball back carefully and calling Worsnop off his line. The keeper left it late and raced to the corner of the area just as Norton was steaming past the defender. Contact was made but Worsnop visibly got a hand on the ball before Norton went over the keeper's shoulder.

The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot but there were complaints, even Norton seeming to signal there had been no foul.

It did not stop him netting from the spot but he showed no joy in celebrating.

Avenue got back in the game in the 86th minute but once again it was the referee who was centre stage. Howson turned the ball in with a looping header following a set-piece but the assistant-referee flagged for offside.

There was a long stoppage as the officials conferred and the referee overruled his assistant to give the goal.

A minute later a spat started with Baker and Giggs and an ugly confrontation erupted as players from both sides waded in.

When order was restored, Baker was yellow-carded and Curzon sub Chris Worsley was handed a straight red. It was an outcome which did not sit well with either camp as Giggs was substituted before the restart.

All that led to over six minutes of stoppage time but Avenue found the equaliser elusive and Curzon exuberantly celebrated what could be a monumental victory.

Bradford boss Benny Phil-lips said: "I thought the game was in the balance until the penalty. In fact, we had made the better chances in both halves until then.

"It was never a penalty - to my mind the referee has tried to even it up by giving our goal when we had a player in an offside position.

"Whatever has happened has gone now. It was left for me to go into that dressing room and try to lift the players after a defeat like that.

"I think we will finish higher than Curzon at the end of the season.

"I would sooner have my players than their squad and I said that to our lads. There is not one of the Curzon players that I would swap for any of my guys in any position.

"We are better overall and we will prove it before the season ends."