Bradford Park Avenue 1, AFC Telford United 0

BRADFORD Park Avenue's luck finally changed as they won their first game of the season at the eighth attempt courtesy of a Chib Chilaka goal to haul themselves off the foot of the National League North table.

The clash with Telford, who have also endured a poor start to the campaign, was described as a must-win for both sides and it was Avenue who came out on top, although in truth any other outcome would have been a travesty.

Delighted Horsfall boss Martin Drury said: "I'm a great believer in that you get what you deserve in this game and we definitely deserved three points.

"We played well, controlled the game and dominated possession. We spent most of the game in their half and when we weren't in their half they didn't look like scoring, so to win and to have a clean sheet is great.

"I thought we were superb and there were some very good individual performances out there – but most importantly, it was a great team display."

Although a belated victory, Avenue could quite easily have had three or four wins from their first eight games. But they will settle for one at this stage, even though it only lifts them to third bottom.

They are still in the relegation zone but have doubled their early-season points total, while Telford – who parted company with manager Steve Kittrick, the former Guiseley boss, five games into the season – have tumbled back to the basement.

The home side began well and had the Bucks on the back foot but Avenue keeper Jon Stewart had to be lively when the visitors made their counter-attacks.

The first half ended goalless but it was not without goalmouth incident. A Chilaka shot went across the face of the Telford goal with Jason St Juste agonisingly close to a tap-in at the far post.

Chilaka and St Juste combined well to earn a corner on the half-hour mark and Avenue skipper Simon Ainge was unfortunate not to break the deadlock from the resulting corner.

It was to be Chilaka who proved the match-winner as he netted a shot on the turn from a low cross from Adam Mather just after the hour. Mather had been allowed to break down the left flank after good work from St Juste.

Drury had words of praise for both Chilaka and St Juste, saying: "As well as our keeper and the defence have played, I thought Jason – who only came back to the club a day or so before the game – was outstanding.

"He was a constant threat and Chib has got another goal to his tally and that was deserved as well."