Bradford Park Avenue 1 North Ferriby United 1

AVENUE came agonisingly close to earning a deserved victory tonight, despite having skipper Nathan Hotte sent off early in the second half.

The home side dominated this Vanarama Conference North clash, especially towards the end, but were held to a draw as North Ferriby defended desperately.

Centre back Ryan Qualter had given the hosts a 17th-minute lead following a corner.

Ferriby, who had former Avenue men Jason St Juste and Grant Black in their side, ended the first half strongly but without causing too many problems for home keeper John Danby.

The decision that changed the game came just six minutes into the second half. Hotte was dismissed following a blur of activity in the Avenue area, apparently for handball, but Danby saved Nathan Jarman’s penalty.

Qualter almost bagged his second goal of the night 13 minutes later but headed Joe Colbeck’s free-kick just wide.

The visitors levelled in the 73rd minute when Mark Gray turned in a cross from substitute Luis Bruce.

Avenue were not prepared to just hold out and went in search of a winner. They came close to getting one as Richard Marshall struck the post in the last minute and hit a dipping shot just over in stoppage time.

Into the fifth minute of injury time, a Colbeck free-kick was tipped for a corner from which Qualter headed just wide again.

Avenue’s new signing Fernando Moke, captured from Droylsden hours before kick-off, remained an unused substitute.

Meanwhile, Solihull Moors are back in the area tomorrow night as they head to promotion rivals GUISELEY just three days after a 3-2 win at Horsfall saw them retain fourth place. It is an important clash at Nethermoor as the gap between them and the third-placed Lions is just two points.

Avenue and Guiseley now know their opponents in the FA Trophy third qualifying round a week on Saturday following today’s draw. Bradford host league rivals Leamington, while Guiseley are at home to Evo-Stik Premier outfit Rushall Olympic.

There is cup action tomorrow as THACKLEY host Shaw Lane Aquaforce and LIVERSEDGE travel to Clipstone in the Toolstation League Cup third round.