Gloucester City 1, Bradford Park Avenue 3

BRADFORD Park Avenue took another leap up the National League North table last night with an excellent away win in a six-pointer.

Martin Drury’s men are now 13th after smashing through the 20-point barrier, and are three points clear of the last night’s hosts Gloucester City with a game in hand.

Avenue could have gone into an early lead as Chib Chilaka – restored to the starting line-up after being on the bench on Saturday – twice got behind the home defence but Tigers’ keeper Jasbir Singh was in fine form.

Bradford stopper Jon Stewart was soon in action as he denied Obi Anoruo after the home forward had got the better of Ryan Qualter. But it wasn’t long before the visitors put themselves into a strong position.

Two goals in a four-minute spell midway through the first half put them in the driving seat as they held their 2-0 lead going into the interval.

Danny Schofield sent in a low centre and the ball was deflected into Billy Jones who inadvertently turned the ball past Singh.

The Gloucester keeper was soon beaten again as Chilaka headed into the bottom corner to convert an excellent cross from Craig King – another player who came back into the team on the night.

Avenue stretched their lead just after the hour mark from the penalty spot.

Singh brought Chilaka down and substitute Richard Marshall, who had come on in the first half, after Jake Scott fell awkwardly following an aerial challenge, drilled in from 12 yards.

The Tigers hit back soon after when Harry Williams found the bottom corner after a long run had taken him through the visitors’ defence.

Eight minutes later there was a goalmouth scramble which ended when the referee decided Stewart had been fouled.

The Avenue keeper needed treatment after that, but the home supporters felt he made the most of it and applauded rapturously five minutes later when he was yellow carded for time-wasting.

It was the visitors who came closest to adding late on when a Marshall corner was cleared off the line by a desperate Singh.

Despite four minutes of stoppage time Williams’ goal proved to be nothing other than a consolation for the home side.

Tonight sees Albion Sports on the road to Maltby Main in the Toolstation Northern Counties East Premier Division.

Ten places separate the sides and an away win would take Albion up to third but they have played more games than any of the sides in the top eight.