Manager Deacey fuming as Avenue lose to another set-piece goal (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Manager John Deacey fuming as Bradford Park Avenue lose to another set-piece goal

4:20pm Sunday 9th September 2012 in Sport By Ian Whiting

Bradford Park Avenue 0, Brackley Town 1

Bradford Park Avenue suffered their second consecutive defeat but Blue Square Bet North leaders Brackley Town looked far from convincing yesterday.

Avenue were left mightily frustrated as they bossed the game against the top side in their league but ended up with back-to-back home defeats.

Bradford boss John Deacey was left fuming as his side lost the game from a set-piece goal.

Deacey said: “I’m furious that we haven’t won the game, never mind anything else.

"We were on top for most of it and my keeper hasn’t had one save to make, apart from the goal.

"Once again it was from a set-piece and I’ve lost count of the number we have conceded that way this season.

“I wouldn’t mind but it was from a nothing free-kick. There was no foul - it was just a poor decision from the referee. But then we don’t react to the ball into box and allow their lad a free header.

“They certainly didn’t look like a top-of-the-table side, and five or six of our players have had fantastic games so I’m very, very disappointed that we didn’t get something from the game.”

The game’s only goal came just minutes into the second half.

A free-kick was awarded in front of the visitors’ dug out.

Brackley’s top scorer Owen Story whipped it into the area, and Gary Mulligan had space to plant a header past Avenue keeper Tim Deasy.

Story had the visitors’ only real shot in the first half but was wide from the edge of the area.

Avenue had forced Billy Turley, Town’s keeper and skipper, into some good saves in that goalless first period.

The home side ended the half with a sustained attack as the visitors were penned inside their own half for most of the last five minutes.

They began the second half in similar mode but were stunned by Town’s goal.

Bradford continued to dominate possession and the corner count but Brackley’s Eddie Odhiambo tried a very audacious free-kick attempt from the centre circle.

Fortunately for Avenue and Deasy, who was a long way off his line, it drifted wide.

Deacey used his options on the bench, and Turley tipped goalbound efforts from Richard Marshall and Jordan Deacey over his bar and also foiled substitutes Matty James and Tom Greaves.

For the last three minutes and time added-on, Brackley protected their top-of-the table position by running into the corners to run the clock down.