Chester 1 Bradford Park Avenue 1

Bradford Park Avenue gained a hard-earned point against new Blue Square North table-toppers Chester.

It was a confidence-boosting draw for mid-table Avenue but it could have been so much more as the home side only levelled two minutes from time.

The Bradford club had taken an early lead and almost held out for a victory.

However, it was the least the home side deserved after putting Avenue under pressure for long spells during the game.

Bradford opened the scoring in the second minute when Alex Davidson cut inside and fed Danny Holland, who curled in a shot from just inside the area.

The visitors then found themselves under siege for much of the first half. The woodwork and keeper Tim Deasy held the home side at bay, while Nathan Hotte came to their rescue by clearing off the goal-line.

Chester’s pressure eventually paid off when Ashley Williams headed in Sean Clancy’s 88th-minute corner.

Avenue press officer Lewis Sale said: “There were times when it was all Chester but we defended well.

“In the last few minutes there were chances at both ends and they were good chances as well. I think a lot of us would have settled for a draw before the game and somehow we got one.”