Bradford Park Avenue 1 Chorley 0

DARREN Edmondson’s reign as Avenue manager got off to the best possible start as he saw Chib Chilaka hit a superb winner against Chorley.

With contractual issues with former club Barrow preventing him from being in the dugout, his number two Alex Meechan was in charge assisted by Terry Dolan and Danny Schofield.

The new management team made four changes to the weekend line-up one of which saw the return of Adam Mather, against his former club. Mather almost had the perfect start as he sent in a 25-yard shot in the first minute that the Magpies keeper did well to save.

It was a bright start by Avenue but Chorley got into the game as the first half unfolded. There were late chances, however, for Chilaka and Avenue skipper Simon Ainge just before the interval.

Ten minutes into the second half, Chilaka fired in the all-important winner and it was worth the ticket price. The club’s leading scorer hit a 25-yard shot that curled and dipped into the top corner.

The Magpies thought they had an instant reply but Adam Roscoe was flagged offside as he prodded home. Chilaka was a handful for the Chorley defence all night and they were glad to see the back of him when he was substituted with five minutes remaining.

There was a tense five minutes of added time but Avenue were still controlling the play and banked a deserved maximum to extend the gap between them and the drop zone in the National North.

The match started with a minute’s silence before kick-off in respect to the victims of the atrocities in Brussels.