Alfreton Town 0 Bradford Park Avenue 1

IT’S been a busy few days for Bradford Park Avenue after they re-signed former striker Lamin Colley and warmed up for tonight’s FA Trophy tie against Lincoln City with another league victory.

A win at Nicky Law’s Alfreton Town – earned by a solid display and Craig King’s 15th minute goal – lifted Bradford to 12th place.

Colley returned after his contract with Stockport County was cancelled by mutual consent. The forward, who former manager John Deacey brought in from Harrogate Railway Athletic, made just nine appearances for the Hatters this term.

He will not be eligible for tonight’s tie with the Imp,s which is a third attempt to stage the first round clash. It was originally scheduled for the previous Saturday and then rearranged for Wednesday, but both were washed out.

The Imps warmed up with a 2-2 home draw with Barrow in the National League with dangerman and top scorer Matt Rhead netting both goals and collecting the man of the match accolade.

Lincoln may be from a division higher and will be favourites, but Bradford showed at the Impact Arena that they are in good form and brimming with confidence as they extended their unbeaten run to eight games and banked a third straight league win.

Law’s side were either poor or made to look average by a determined Avenue who were first to every ball and won their battles all over the pitch. The game’s only goal stemmed from a 50/50 challenge in midfield.

Richard Marshall made sure he won the ball and broke forward before finding King who took it forward and slotted past the Reds’ debutant keeper Fabian Spiess.

King had already seen a shot headed off the line following a ninth minute corner, and Spiess had made his mark by denying Chib Chilaka with a superb save as the striker sent in a shot from a narrow angle.

Alfreton briefly threatened midway through the first half when a free-kick, which earned Marshall a yellow card, deflected off the wall for the Reds’ first corner. Soon after that Lindon Meikle rattled the crossbar with Bradford keeper Jon Stewart beaten.

Former Alfreton stopper Stewart was fairly untroubled after that, but his return to the Impact Arena was marred by a yellow card that he picked up on the hour mark for time wasting.

Stewart almost found himself on the score-sheet when a long kick out by him bounced over Spiess but wide of the unguarded net. It was King who came closest to adding Bradford’s second.

With the visitors seeking a second to underline their dominance, a Nathan Turner through ball sent King clear but Spiess pulled off a stunning save to palm the ball round his post.