Boston United 5, Bradford Park Avenue 0

BRADFORD Park Avenue were finally back in action after more than a month of postponements but it was not a happy return.

Hosts Boston United romped to a 5-0 win which lifted them into the Vanarama Conference North play-off places.

Avenue knew that anything they got at the Jakemans Stadium would be a bonus but the last thing the relegation-threatened side needed was a hammering.

And they will have to put this result behind them quickly as they take on Tadcaster Albion tomorrow night.

The West Riding County Cup semi-final tie at Tadcaster is the first of three games in six days as Avenue's season is set to go into overdrive.

The more vital games of the week are Wednesday's visit of Stockport County and Saturday's at home to Lowestoft as John Deacey's men battle to preserve their Conference League status.

Their confidence will be at a low ebb after Saturday's mauling at the hands of the Pilgrims.

Brad Barraclough had Avenue's first goal attempt in the 12th minute but he flicked Joe Colbeck's cross into the arms of the home keeper. Colbeck had already been booked by then so the wing back was left to tread a fine line.

Danny Frost and Chib Chilaka also had chances in the first quarter of the game but Avenue keeper John Danby was soon very busy.

Boston broke the deadlock ten minutes before half-time when Mark Jones rounded Simon Ainge and slotted past Danby. And they were 2-0 at the interval after a blocked shot rebounded to Pilgrims top scorer Dayle Southwell.

Danby also had to pull out a top-drawer save to deny Carl Piergianni before the break.

Home keeper Joel Dixon bravely saved at the feet of Chilaka early in the second half but bright spots were fleeting for the visitors – and they were 3-0 down in the 56th minute when Jones netted his second goal with a neat shot on the turn.

Deacey made a triple substitution around the hour mark, bringing on Steve Boothman, Lamin Colley and Paul Walker. Making way were Colbeck, Barraclough and Frost but the only good it did was to get players much-needed match practice.

The game itself was not altered and Jones completed his hat-trick when he latched on to a downward header by substitute Marc Newsham.

Then in stoppage time, Nicky Walker made it a nap hand with a superb free-kick.