Bradford Park Avenue 1, North Ferriby 2

Avenue suffered a demoralising loss at home to rivals North Ferriby United tonight.

The victory for the East Yorkshire club was payback for defeat earlier in the month and comes as another nail in the Bradford club’s chances of reaching the play-offs. They remain 12th in the table, while Ferriby go up to second.

The visitors had a good start and a break down the right flank ended with a cross that was turned against Avenue keeper John Lamb’s bar.

The home side’s first real chance came when James Knowles put his header from a Nicky Boshell cross just wide.

It was a key moment because Ferriby broke the deadlock minutes later. It was a very good passing move, again down the right, that ended with a smart shot by Russell Fry.

Avenue were level by the break though following a 35th-minute equaliser. It came from a set-piece, with Adam Clayton converting a Rob O’Brien corner with a bullet header.

The home defenders continued to make mistakes on the slippery surface and Lamb had to make crucial saves before the interval.

Just ten minutes into the second period, Avenue came close to going in front when Matty James picked out Clayton but his header was well saved.

Ferriby grabbed their winner midway through the second half following some lamentable defending. Lamb failed to gather a cross after coming off his line, the ball dropped to an unmarked player in the area and a scramble ensued before former Bradford City defender Sam Denton fired home.

Bradford boss John Deacey responded by sending on his substitutes and altering the system. Although more chances came late on, the visitors held on for the win.

Avenue chairman John Dean said: “It is a costly defeat for us and there is no denying that. But once again we went into a game a little bit under-prepared. We hadn’t played for a fortnight but Ferriby had had a game on Saturday and looked sharper.

“I think John did what he could in terms of making changes once we fell behind and we ended up with three at the back and three up front but it didn’t salvage it for us.”