Brackley Town 2 Bradford Park Avenue 1

BATTLING Avenue were thwarted by a mixture of good defending and poor finishing at fellow strugglers Brackley.

John Deacey's men slipped to a narrow defeat which plunged them closer to the Vanarama Conference North relegation places – and they could be in the drop zone next time they play if Gloucester City win in midweek.

They did everything but score for 87 minutes and then, when they did finally get a goal back, they missed a great opportunity to equalise just over a minute later.

Fernando Moke made his Avenue debut in midfield and he had his side's first chance but shot over from distance.

They found themselves a goal down just 12 minutes into the game. A free-kick for handball was awarded 25 yards out from goal and Ebby Nelson-Addy curled it superbly around the wall and into the bottom corner.

There was a long stoppage as Avenue keeper John Danby received treatment after colliding with the post while attempting the save. He was soon in action after recovering, denying Will Green with a great save with his legs.

Avenue were playing the better football and creating chances. Moke helped a Jordan Deacey free-kick on but Danny Frost turned the ball over. Following another great move, Frost was thwarted by home keeper Dean Snedker.

Chib Chilaka fired wide after being found in space by Joe Colbeck following a defender's slip on the greasy surface, while a later Colbeck free-kick was headed goalwards by Ryan Qualter and fumbled for a corner.

The closest Avenue came to scoring in that first half was a Colbeck free-kick. Even though the former Bantams winger slipped as he struck the ball, it flashed very close to Snedker's goal.

Avenue had not had it all their own way in the first period and Green could twice have added to Brackley's lead.

Chilaka appeared to have been tripped in the area just after the hour mark but the referee was unmoved – and the striker wasted a good chance minutes later when he sliced his shot well wide.

Deacey made changes to bolster his attack but Green finally found a way past Danby, beating the offside trap to reach a ball over the top in the 81st minute and coolly slotting in.

Yet Avenue were far from finished and when substitute Richard Marshall was fouled three minutes from time, Colbeck fired home the free-kick.

Just over a minute later, Colbeck should have equaliser after Marshall had played him in but Snedker made a quick adjustment and somehow kept the ball out.