Redfearn shows his class

Avenue had a bigger job beating the conditions than their opponents at Horsfall Stadium - but they managed it and Chorley were fortunate to go back over the Pennines with a respectable scoreline.

It could easily have been three times worse as nine goals for Avenue would not have been unreasonable. They hit the woodwork three times, saw two efforts cleared off the line and had several other close efforts.

In truth, both teams should have been applauded for producing anything resembling a game of football. The conditions were horrendous at kick-off time and got steadily worse, deteriorating even more rapidly in the final quarter of the game.

However, Avenue would not be distracted. It was the Bradford side's first league game for almost a fortnight and they were determined to win it.

The experience and sublime skill of former Premiership star Neil Redfearn were responsible for the opening goal after Avenue had won the toss and elected to have the wind at their backs.

When they forced a corner in the seventh minute, Redfearn placed the ball in the quadrant with a purpose. Then, with a deft swing of his right foot, the ball curled into the top corner.

One long through-ball from Neil Grayston bounced in the area and over the net with Chorley keeper Mark Canning scurrying back, while a long-range effort from Mark Wilson flashed just over as Avenue attempted to make the most of the elements.

Redfearn bent a long free-kick round the wall but Canning was well placed.

The most spectacular effort of the first half saw David Cooke try his luck from 70 yards. The ball bounced in front of keeper Canning, who managed to leap up to touch it over for a corner.

Despite being against the wind - which, if anything, increased in force - in the second half, it was Avenue who still created the openings.

Wilson hit the upright with a far-post header, after rising to meet a Redfearn corner, and relief for the home defence only came after the soft-looking award of a free-kick for a foul in the area.

Just after the hour mark, new signing Tony Lennon whipped in a cross from the right and it came out off the inside of the post.

In the next minute, Redfearn hit a shot on the run that beat everyone but crashed against the bar and was cleared.

Not until the 71st minute did home keeper Piotr Skiba have a save to make from a snap-shot by Jordan Goodeve. It bounced off the keeper and the resulting corner was Chorley's first of the game but it was dealt with as Skiba got a good punch to it.

Wilson's tenacity removed any doubts about the result just over a minute later. He raced from the halfway line with the ball and cut inside, only to be robbed by Chorley skipper Martin Clark.

The centre back attempted a back-pass but it was weak on the wet surface, Wilson followed it in, got a rebound off the keeper and then stroked the ball into the empty net.

In the one minute of stoppage time, Lennon crossed from the right and substitute Neil Ross volleyed the ball in.

"In conditions so bad it was a great win - but we were unfortunate it wasn't by a much bigger margin," said Avenue assistant manager Clive Freeman.

"Chorley may be bottom of the table but they didn't look it and worked really hard. We should have won by more though.

"We were so on top we could have had double figures, while Piotr could have remained in the dressing room and kept himself warm and dry."