Bradford Park Avenue 3

Spennymoor United 1

Avenue saved one of the best performances of the season for one of their biggest games of the campaign as they booked themselves a place in the semi-finals of the Conference North play-offs.

From the minute they opened the scoring in the ninth minute they were storming into the last four, at Ashton United on Saturday.

A second goal eased them into the interval and the third seconds after the break banished any nerves.

"It was a cracking result and a cracking performance," said delighted Bradford manager Carl Shutt.

"It's the first time I have had an almost full-strength squad to choose from. Apart from Michael Naylor, everyone was available. Jason Maxwell and Neil Grayston haven't played for a while so I started them on the bench.

"Jason made a big difference when he came on in the second half, he has a presence on the pitch and he gave us that bit of extra height. His experience helped us close down Spennymoor when they were trying to get back at us.

"They had a good ten-minute spell after their goal but once we got word on to the pitch to the defence we regained control of the game. They had three forwards on and were going for it but our lads started defending further up the pitch and denied Spennymoor any room."

Avenue had a bright start and had created a few chances before their early strike. It was Steve Oleksewycz who got behind the visitors' defence and he pulled the ball back for Robbie Painter' whose fierce ten-yard shot went in off keeper Liam Sutcliffe.

The home side were playing some good football and their precision passing was causing Spennymoor problems. Former Farsley Celtic keeper Sutcliffe was beaten again right on the half-hour.

Avenue skipper Carl Serrant picked up the ball on the left flank just inside the visitors' half. He played a quick one-two with Nicky Heinemann and sped forward to collect the back-heeled return before driving in a low centre that Heinemann lashed in by the foot of the near post.

Before the first minute of the second half had elapsed Paul Helliwell scorched past the full back and turned in an excellent cross to the far post.

The Avenue players were queuing up but it was Heinemann who soared to crash in a header.

In the 51st minute ,the north easterners hit back after Avenue conceded a throw in level with the edge of their area. The ball was helped into the box and as it bounced close to the six-yard line Danny Brunskill netted a neat shot on the turn.

l Bradford Park Avenue Reserves make a long journey to North Wales tonight to face Chester City Reserves at Flint Town's ground in a Lancashire League game (7.45).