Brackley Town 2 Bradford Park Avenue 0

BRADFORD slipped to second bottom in the National League North following their latest defeat as they began the second month of the season with a loss at Brackley Town.

Avenue were unbeaten after three games of the campaign but Alex Meechan’s side have not picked up a point since August 13 when they conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to Nuneaton Town.

They headed to St James Park with high hopes after taking four points off the Saints last term. They also had a third player in on loan to bolster their beleaguered defence as Corbin Shires started.

The towering youngster from Mansfield Town was in the starting line-up, partnering Joe Kearns at the centre of Avenue’s defence. Kearns is on loan from National League outfit Southport and they were in front of Bantams keeper Joe Cracknell.

The young Bradford City shot-stopper performed heroics and kept the scoreline respectable for Park Avenue as Brackley created the better chances through the game.

The hosts started brightly and when Steve Diggins’ first shot on target was deflected for a corner, it was quickly followed by another flag kick. One of the Saints sinned early on as Adam Walker picked up a fourth-minute yellow card but it didn’t have an adverse effect.

The home side broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Jimmy Armson fired into the top corner after Diggins had laid a square pass to him. That effort may have beaten Cracknell but he was sharp and agile as he palmed a fine Glenn Walker free-kick away and he also prevented David Moyo’s dangerous low centre from crossing his six-yard box.

After the break, Avenue had a good spell but, after forcing a corner, the home side broke and Cracknell had to be on top form to palm away a Shane Byrne free-kick. There were half-chances for Bradford, with Nicky Wroe having a shot blocked, as did Nicky Boshell, and a Luke Dean volley was deflected wide for a corner.

But it was Brackley who scored again to cement their victory. A corner 12 minutes from time was headed back across the area and Luke Graham nodded it home to claim his first goal of the season.