Vanarama National League North: Bradford Park Avenue 3 Worcester City 1

A FIRST half hat-trick from on-loan Bradford City man Reece Webb-Foster brought Avenue a victory that not only lofted them to 12th but also effectively secured their status for next term.

They could mathematically still finish third from bottom, but one point from their final three games is all they need to be absolutely certain of avoiding the drop.

That means they can go into tomorrow's West Riding County Cup final at Valley Parade fully concentrated on defending their crown.

Darren Edmondson had his side set up perfectly for a high-tempo start, and his gameplan worked to perfection. After the home side had opened up a two-goal lead, the Blues were reduced to ten men after centre back Wayne Thomas raised an arm in a challenge with Avenue striker Lamin Colley.

Edmondson said: “I was delighted with the first 35 minutes, and the first half in general, but we conceded a poor goal just before half-time because we just switched off in stoppage time.

“We tried to get at them right from the off, and we knew with the pace of Jason (St Juste) on one side and Dylan (Mottley-Henry) on the other that we would cause them problems, especially with Reece playing in the hole behind the striker.

“Reece can find space and use it well and get into the channels. He also has the ability to pick people's pockets, and he’s done that in this game.

"Once we were 2-0 up, I expected us to win the game because this is a difficult place to come to - teams find it hard to get a result.

“The second half was a non-event really because, no matter how much we all try to keep the momentum going, footballers will think ‘3-1 up against ten men, its done’, and that’ll never change.

“Fortunately it was job done. Their goal just before half-time gave them a bit of belief and they started the second half well but the longer it went on the more obvious it was that the damage had been done in that first 35 minutes.”

Webb-Foster opened the scoring with a peach of a shot in the 19th minute, the youngster rifling a shot from outside the area into the top corner off the underside of the bar, giving the Blues’ keeper Ethan Ross no chance.

The second was a neat header that ended a superb counter-attack.

Colley played a weighted through ball for St Juste to run on to and his excellent cross was met by Webb-Foster, who was racing in and stooped to nod home.

Just three minutes after Thomas’ red card, Webb-Forster netted another header, looping it over Ross but Avenue keeper Ryan Jones was also beaten by a header from a setpiece, Kyle Perry nodding in following a first-half stoppage-time corner.