Gainsborough Trinity 0, Bradford Park Avenue 1

AVENUE put an end to their three-match losing Vanarama National North run with a commanding performance at Northolme.

The visitors only had one goal to show for overall dominance of the clash with their mid-table hosts – but it was a spectacular one.

Chib Chilaka's 19th-minute acrobatic strike proved decisive as Avenue brought all three points back from Lincolnshire.

It had been a difficult week for Martin Drury's team after a 3-1 defeat at basement outfit AFC Telford in the league and an exit from the FA Trophy.

A 5-0 thumping at lower-league outfit Nantwich Town on Tuesday meant that Avenue had gone five games without a win since beating National League opponents Lincoln City in the previous round of the Trophy.

Drury made five changes to his starting line-up and one of those was goalkeeper Jon Stewart, who was available after serving a three-match ban following his red card late on in the 2-1 victory over the Imps.

Nathan Turner, Ryan Qualter, Lamin Colley and Sam Patterson were the others drafted back in and the new-look Avenue pushed Trinity back from the first whistle.

The visitors created three good openings before Chilaka's goal – the first coming when Adam Mather's second-minute free-kick looked goalbound but Colley tried to make sure, only to put a header off target.

Craig King fizzed an excellent cross through the area that Patterson just failed to reach and, soon after, Colley beat home keeper Jan Budtz to a through-ball, chipping over the shot-stopper but covering Blues skipper Dominic Roma headed clear.

Avenue's fast approach play was troubling the home defence and when a Luke Dean shot was expertly tipped over by Budtz, the resulting corner was the defining moment.

The flag-kick was headed back into the danger zone by King and helped on by Billy Priestley, Chilaka spotting his opportunity and executing a bicycle kick to send the ball past Budtz.

Avenue had been dominant and were good value for their lead but the second half was more even and Stewart had saves to make to deny Craig Reid, twice, while Priestley did well to clear an effort from substitute Darryn Stamp, formerly of Guiseley, off the line.

However, it was Stewart's opposite number that was the busier of the two keepers and Budtz was named man of the match by the home side's sponsors.