Bradford Park Avenue 3, Farsley Celtic 0 - Bradford Park Avenue recaptured the UniBond Division One leadership for the third time this season with this derby victory.

Avenue under-performed but still won, while Celtic tumbled out of the top eight after a defeat in which they were reduced to ten men when keeper Liam Sutcliffe was red-carded after conceding a penalty.

The Bradford side were only behind leaders Ashton United on goal difference going into the game and, while the gods smiled on them, the fates were conspiring against their promotion rivals.

Ashton, now trailing by three points although they have played a game more, were beaten at Harrogate Town, and Vauxhall Motors lost their fourth game on the trot when they were toppled at home by North Ferriby United. The Merseysiders have a game in hand on Avenue, but have slipped seven points behind.

Avenue boss Trevor Storton's delight at winning a tight derby was doubled by the results from elsewhere. "It's pleasing because there is a little bit of a gap now," he said.

"We are the first team in the division to get beyond 60 points and that gives us an edge, but we have to keep going," added Storton. "If we win all our remaining games we will be champions - it won't be that straightforward, but it is left with us now,

"One of the most tricky fixtures we had left is out of the way after Saturday, and that is good. Farsley are a hard side to beat and made us work really hard.

"Farsley played their normal game and hurt us a bit with the long ball and quick attackers. Full credit to them because they did very well with ten men. I thought we might have gone on to get five or six.

"Their keeper was a bit unlucky to be sent off. The ball ended up in the net so the referee should have just booked him and let the goal stand."

Celtic boss Martin Haresign said the sending off had no bearing on the result because Avenue's second goal at the start of the second half effectively ended his side's hopes.

"At 1-0 down at half-time with the strong wind against us I thought we were still in it," he said. "It must have been an off-day for them because it was a really close game.

"I told the players before they went out for the second half that we could get a 'result', but by the time I had walked round to the dug-out we were 2-0 down. Two mistakes and two goals behind - that sets teams apart and wins titles, but we feel hard done by."

It was a surprise there was only one goal in a lively first half. First blood went to Avenue in the 25th minute, Andy Hayward sweeping home Jason Maxwell's low cross from the six-yard line.

That put the two on 17 goals apiece for Avenue this term, but it did not take Hayward long to edge in front. Just over 20 minutes later he was leading scorer again.

Skipper Mark Hancock provided the final ball, and Hayward slipped the offside trap before beating young Sutcliffe with a shot into the corner.

The penalty came in the 54th minute and robbed Hayward of a hat-trick. Sutcliffe raced out and, as he fouled Maxwell in the area, the ball ran loose and Hayward netted. Sutcliffe handed the gloves to left back Phil Turner and Hancock drilled the kick home.