Gainsborough Trinity 1 Bradford Park Avenue 1: Park Avenue began the new season with a creditable draw in the National North but it could have been so much better for Alex Meechan’s men as they missed a stoppage-time penalty.

The visitors dominated long spells and created plenty of glorious openings, especially in the second half. Liam Dickinson was introduced at the start of the second period and it was his injury-time goal that earned Avenue a point but he failed to convert a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time.

The six minutes of time added on were mainly due to match referee Will Finnie calling a drinks break in the 83rd minute. It was a blistering hot day but the decision didn’t go down well with the Bradford management in the dugout.

The home side started well and Avenue keeper Ryan Jones had to be alert to get a fingertip to a ninth minute Gavin Rothery shot, helping it onto the bar. But the visitors soon settled and began to gain the upper hand.

There was another scare for Bradford in the first period but James Reid’s shot was blocked at the expense of a corner that Jones punched clear. The referee called the game’s first drinks break just before the half-hour – it was that kind of a day in Lincolnshire.

Avenue were carving out chances and an Andy McWilliams cross was turned for a corner while a ball over the top by Matty Hill, that Chris Sharp just failed to control, also had the Avenue fans on the edge of their seats.

Trinity keeper Jake Eastwood was being tested and, when he fumbled a ball into the area, Jack Ryan looked set to score but he dallied and was robbed. Ryan had another clear chance soon after and Sharp headed just over before Nicky Boshell sent in a shot from distance that Eastwood clung to at the second attempt.

Despite all of Avenue’s territorial advantage, and the chance count, Gainsborough went into the break with a lead. Rothery, who was a team mate of Boshell at Guiseley a division higher last season, fired in from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after Jones had fouled Jacob Hazel.

Meechan sent Dickinson out after the break, replacing Sharp, but it was another substitute that almost had an immediate impact. Tom Davie replaced Boshell in the 68th minute and he headed a Leon Osborne cross just over with his first touch.

Dickinson was the major threat to the Trinity defence, however. He cut inside to send in a shot that Eastwood saved and headed a later cross from Ben McKenna just over.

Eastwood was called on again minutes later when he tipped Osborne’s looping header over his crossbar.

The Trinity keeper was finally beaten when McKenna’s cross found Dickinson and his header went in off the bar. Dickinson, who was also at Guiseley last season, had the chance to net the winner from the spot when Gainsborough skipper Matt Wilson brought McKenna down in the area but Eastwood made a fine save low to his right.