Vanarama National League North: Bradford Park Avenue 0 Stockport County 0

AVENUE will be kicking themselves that they didn’t win the clash of former Football League clubs after creating some excellent late opportunities.

It had been a largely forgettable game as both sides struggled with the conditions on a pitch that cut up and was treacherous underfoot.

On the overall balance of play, a draw was probably fair but as players tired, Avenue finished the stronger and they were twice denied by the woodwork.

Avenue boss Martin Drury said: “I thought it was a very positive performance from our lads and the only disappointment, if there is one, is that we didn’t go on to get the three points.

“We haven’t played for a fortnight but Stockport had a game in midweek, against Crewe.

"I’m not using that as an excuse for not winning but it was the reason why some of our players looked a little rusty.

“But to go into this game and show the energy levels that we have is a testament to the fitness and desire of the players.

"I thought we controlled long spells of the game and we’ve hit the post and the bar, while our keeper has been well protected and had little to do all game.

“Towards the end, we were the fitter, stronger side, and that is a huge plus to take from this as we look to the next game.”

The Hatters’ skipper Sean O’Hanlon and his central defensive partner Chris Smalley were troubled by Avenue’s strikeforce.

The pace of Lamin Colley and the strength and skill of Chib Chilaka kept the pair on their toes.

However, the best chance of the first half fell to Michael Potts just after the half-hour.

He was on the end of yet another good move by the home side, and when Sam Patterson slid a through ball to him on the edge of the area, he only had Dean Henderson to beat but the keeper stuck out a leg to block the goal-bound effort.

Avenue could have opened up a margin in the last ten minutes as they ran the Hatters’ defence ragged.

Colley worked his way across the edge of the 18-yard box before striking a fierce, diagonal, low drive that thumped against the foot of a post and looped up into Henderson’s hands.

Just minutes later, good work on the left flank led to a decent cross that Chilaka got on the end of but he headed straight at Henderson.

With just three minutes remaining, Colley was in the thick of the action again but his header clipped the bar on its way over the target.