Vanarama North: Stockport County 2 Bradford Park Avenue 0

BRADFORD Park Avenue's five-game unbeaten run in Vanarama National League North came to a dismal end at Edgeley Park as promotion- chasing hosts Stockport County ran out comfortable winners.

The home side didn’t have it all their own way in the battle of former Football League clubs but, following a tight and goalless first half, they eased in front, doubled their lead just over quarter of an hour later and coasted to the three points.

Bradford boss Martin Drury said: “We missed a glorious one-on-one in the second minute and I feared it might cost us.

“On reflection, we didn’t make our dominance count when we were on top, whereas Stockport did.

"They are a big, physical side with a good mix of old and young. I’ve no complaints with the result.”

Victory for the Hatters keeps them in the play-off places in fifth, while Avenue remain 17th but only above the trapdoor by goal difference.

They do have games in hand on the clubs in the bottom three but the damning statistic is that they have scored just 13 goals in 13 games.

They looked like scoring in the early stages at Edgeley Park but found home skipper Sean O’Hanlan – the centre back was named man of the match – and keeper Ian Ormson in good form.

It was recent loan signing Connor Hughes who found himself with only Ormson to beat early on after charging down a clearance from a defender. The Halifax Town man looked set to score but could only find the side-netting.

Further half-chances were created but James Walshaw fired over, a corner forced by Jason St Juste came to nothing and Luke Dean shot tamely after Nathan Turner’s throw-in found him in space but with his back to goal.

Avenue skipper Simon Ainge headed clear when County’s Jake Kirby sent in a free-kick, and keeper Jon Stewart had to be alert to deny Lewis Montrose as the home side began to threaten.

There was a spell of Avenue pressure after that and they had the ball in the net, but Hughes was offside when he collected a return ball from Walshaw.

Stockport almost broke the deadlock late in the half when Ainge did well to block a shot but the rebound fell to Karl Ledsham, who fired well over.

Just before the break, there was a flare-up following a tasty challenge which resulted in yellow cards for Avenue defender Billy Priestley and the home side’s Kayode Odejayi.

Five minutes after the restart, Odejayi’s flicked header to a long ball was nodded past Stewart by Micah Evans.

The Hatters were denied a second minutes later by an offside flag when Kirby turned the ball in.

However, they did breach the visitors’ defence again when Modou Cham, a 19-year-old on loan from Blackburn Rovers, hit a sumptuous shot that flew past Stewart.

Former Avenue man Lamin Colley made a cameo appearance against his old club from the bench with ten minutes remaining as the match fizzled out.