UniBond League: Bradford Park Avenue 1, Burscough 1.

Park Avenue maintained their unbeaten record this season at Horsfall Stadium but they could have done even better against the UniBond Division One leaders.

The visitors went into the break a goal up after an unbelievable strike from their top scorer but had their last line of defence to thank for the point earned.

Goalkeeper Gary Price made two outstanding saves, one from substitute and debutant Mark Wilson late in the game that ensured his side held on for a draw.

Avenue manager Trevor Storton said: "We didn't function in the first half, didn't play well at all, but if we had reached half-time at 0-0 I felt we would have won the game.

"In fact we are very disappointed that we haven't won. They scored a wonder goal really, one of those Match Of The Day jobs that either fly in or fly over the stand.

"We got level through Phil Denney and in the last 20 minutes we battered them. We bombarded them with corners and their keeper made two unbelievable saves to keep them in it.

"Overall I think it was 70-30 to us on the play so we deserved three points but you could say it is a little bit our own fault because we didn't put our chances away.

"At the end of the day we have kept our unbeaten home record, come from behind and got a point against the leaders. On that I have to run round to the lads and say well done."

Not only were Avenue unbeaten at home but Burscough had not lost away so a draw was always on the cards. In fact it was the visitors' 11th draw from 23 league starts. Avenue's failure to secure a win sees them drop a place to fourth.

Burscough took the lead after 16 minutes after a quick break when an Avenue attack had broken down. Michael Clandon was released on the left flank and his deep cross was met with a net-busting first-time volley by Ryan Lowe from 12 yards.

The home side pressed throughout the first half and early in the second were unfortunate not to get a penalty when a shot from Martin James was deflected by Andy McMullan's arm. Lincoln referee Wayne McIntosh declared it a ball-to hand situation.

Price somehow turned a Jason Maxwell header destined for the top corner over his bar. But Avenue levelled on the hour when a Gary Edmunds cross was fired into the roof of the net by Denney.

They continued to turn the screw and Wilson almost made a dream return to the ranks, his angled header denied by a great save.

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