Eight straight puts Avenue on summit
5:50pm Sunday 30th March 2008
Bradford Park Avenue 3, Garforth Town 0
The all-conquering run since Dave Cameron took over at Horsfall Stadium continued with yet another clean sheet and three points that took them joint top.
Garforth still had hopes of claiming a spot in the play-offs but they cannot catch Avenue now, even if they win all their remaining games.
A superior goal difference is keeping Skelmersdale United at the summit but their grip is weakening as Avenue have two games in hand.
Now Cameron wants to extend his 100 per cent start to nine games in Tuesday's trip to Newcastle Blue Star.
He said: "We have had a great start but we have achieved nothing yet so we have to keep going. The clean sheets are behind the run and the reason why we have picked up seven league wins on the trot.
"You need to score goals but good habits start at the back and solid defending breeds confidence.
"We had to make changes for this game because of Paul Stoneman's suspension but Paul Collins has come in and done an excellent job in what were, quite frankly, appalling conditions.
"That could have been an excuse for some of them to duck out of a challenge or not put their body on the line to make a block.
"They didn't want that said about them and they were magnificent."
Avenue took a firm hold on the game from the first whistle and got their reward for the high-octane start with two early goals.
From the game's first corner in the seventh minute, Chris Williams' in-swinger was bundled home at the back post by skipper Steve Connors, thanks to the use of his chest.
Williams swung in a similar corner in the 11th-minute but this time no one in the area got a touch and the ball went straight into the net.
There were other chances in the first half as the home side used the strong wind in their favour and coped better with the ever-worsening surface.
Garforth came into the game after the break but found Avenue centre backs Collins and Mark Hotte in fine form.
They were aided not only by the full backs but central midfielders Connors and Tom Baker, who made several timely tackles and covered every blade of grass.
Connors' immense display was crowned by a second goal when Avenue substitute Gareth Morris started a raid on the right flank. He found Williams, who turned the ball to Connors to drill home a low, diagonal shot into the corner from just inside the area.