Bradford Park Avenue 2 Colwyn Bay 2

TWO stunning equalisers, one for each side, ensured this Vanarama Conference North relegation clash ended with honours even.

In-form Bradford were held at home by ten men Colwyn Bay on a night of high drama.

Chib Chilaka had the first chance for the home side but his shot was blocked and the rebound cleared. There was a spate of Avenue corners and the best chance came from the third but Bay’s keeper cleared.

Then came a penalty and resulting red card as Colwyn’s Lanre Olpade was dismissed for deliberate handball. Paul Walker took the spot-kick but the ball cannoned back off the post.

Alex Pursehouse was causing the visitors’ defence all kinds of problems and his low ball into the area picked out Nathan Hotte but he fired over the bar.

However, Pursehouse did get the assist for the opening goal. He delivered the 27th-minute corner and Simon Ainge climbed high to power home a header.

The ten Welshmen were hanging on towards the end of the first half but they came out for the second with fresh belief.

Their equaliser came when James Ellison gave John Danby no chance with a free-kick from 35 yards, the ball zipping into the top corner.

The home side lost their way a little after the equaliser so Bradford boss John Deacey made a double substitution, bringing Lamin Colley and Joe Colbeck on for Walker and Luke Dean.

The change almost worked as Colley headed just wide soon after but Colwyn went into the lead when Obi Anoruo got on the end of a good cross to slot in from close range.

The home side had a chance to level late on but Billy Priestley put a header just wide of the Bay goal.

Just as it seemed Avenue were destined for their first defeat in half a dozen games, Ainge rifled in his second of the night, this time from distance, to rescue a point.