Leamington 4 Bradford Park Avenue 3

BRADFORD Park Avenue’s woes continued with a defeat at fellow Vanarama Conference North strugglers Leamington that left them deeper in the relegation mire.

The Brakes ran out 4-3 winners in an entertaining seven-goal thriller at the New Windmill Ground. However, Bradford laboured and their three goals papered over the cracks at the club.

There was promising news before kick-off with new signings Simon Ainge and Johnny Lynch both available and in the starting line-up.

Former Guiseley, Luton Town and Bradford City centre back Ainge had only completed his move to Avenue from Conference Premier neighbours FC Halifax Town on Saturday but the club received clearance from the FA in time for him to start.

Lynch had joined on loan from Halifax’s rivals Southport on a one-month loan.

The home side started well, breaking the deadlock in only the second minute when forward Lee Moore swept the ball past Avenue keeper John Danby from close range.

The visitors were out of sorts and when Stephan Morley doubled Leamington’s lead with a driven free-kick midway through the first half, they appeared to be coasting to a comfortable victory.

Bradford striker Chib Chilaka had other ideas and he bagged a late first-half brace that saw the sides turn around all square.

Chilaka halved the deficit in the 40th minute with a neat turn and shot and two minutes later netted from close range after a well worked through ball picked him out.

The quickfire brace did not seem to unsettle the relegation-threatened Brakes. It took them just five minutes of the second half to reclaim the lead.

It was Moore again who got the final touch, poking the ball into Danby’s net, but only after good work by Danny Newton.

Again the home side opened a two-goal lead, Chilton winning the ball back and mounting a counter-attack which ended with Jordan Goddard scoring Leamington’s fourth.

Avenue were not finished and, following a corner ten minutes from time, the ball was bundled in inside a packed area, with Ainge being credited with the goal. It marked his second debut for the club as he had played three games for them in a brief spell following his release by the Bantams.

The defeat added to Boxing Day’s 2-1 loss at promotion-chasing Chorley and leaves Bradford second bottom, five points below the trap door, and they now trail the Brakes by six points but have two games in hand.