Vanarama North: Bradford Park Avenue 1 Brackley Town 0

AVENUE are out of the drop zone in Vanarama National League North at the expense of Brackley Town after a narrow but deserved victory at Horsfall Stadium.

Luke Dean struck Park Avenue’s 57th-minute winner, which extended their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions as they look ahead to next Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Salford City.

Delighted Avenue boss Martin Drury said: “I thought the victory was well deserved.

“We created enough chances to have won by a superior scoreline but just couldn’t find that second goal to really kick on.

"Most pleasing was the way the players carried out specific jobs, and the fitness levels were also very good, so credit to them.

“We knew it would be tough with new management in at Brackley and a first win for them last weekend (FA Cup second qualifying round).

"We expected them to have a spring in their step and come here with some confidence.

“They started pretty well and it took us a bit to get going but once we did I thought we controlled the game. When going forward we got ourselves into some very good advanced positions through some quality football but our end product let us down at times.

“At 1-0, Brackley were always going to start throwing everything at us late on but again we were reasonably solid and managed to keep the clean sheet we wanted.”

Avenue keeper Jon Stewart had the first save to make, doing well to grasp Sam Whittall’s fifth-minute volley as it arrowed towards the top corner.

However, there was good pressure from the home side throughout the first half and that led to chances.

Chib Chilaka had a shot from an acute angle that was parried and they forced a number of corners.

They came close when Saints keeper Dan Crane touched an inswinging corner over his bar. Whittall had to head another one over as Avenue winger Jason St Juste ran riot.

Crane and Brackley defender Pablo Mills gave their manager and supporters a nervous moment when they had a breakdown in communications and Crane had to save well when Chilaka sent in a good shot on the turn.

There were big chances at both ends soon after the interval. The visitors had a free-kick that Owen Story delivered to the unmarked Ryan Austin at the far post but he volleyed over.

Just minutes later, Chilaka found Richard Marshall, who sent in a shot that was deflected over the bar for yet another corner.

Another marauding run from St Juste ended with his cross being blocked but Marshall picked up possession and fired in a shot that just curled wide.

The frustration of that meant nothing just five minutes later as Dean scored the all-important goal.

He was found by man of the match St Juste and needed no invitation as he finished well.

Saints skipper Austin sailed close to the wind when he brought Chilaka down, who appeared to be through on goal, but he was only shown a yellow card.

A poor kick-out by the visiting keeper Crane led to St Juste bearing down on goal but the shot-stopper was brave and smothered.

He picked up an unfortunate injury in that incident and needed lengthy treatment, which led to eight minutes of stoppage time, but Avenue held out for a deserved three points.