Bradford Park Avenue 0, Chorley 3

BRADFORD Park Avenue remain at the foot of the National North League table after a poor showing and defeat against Chorley at Horsfall Stadium.

The victory lifted the Magpies back up to third as Matt Janssen's men continue to chase promotion. Avenue, however, are nine points below the safety mark and have played a game more than the two clubs currently just above the drop zone.

Bradford boss Mark Bower admitted: "We were off the pace and they punished us.

"We were on the back foot after an early own goal, which was unfortunate. Our keeper had the shot covered but had no chance of reacting to the deflection – and then there is that scramble in their area early in the second half.

"How that stayed out I'll never know and there was a suspicion of handball on the line, from what the players saw. It was still only 1-0 at the time so again, if that goes in then it's a different game.

"That's how it goes for you when are struggling at the wrong end of the table – but you can't take anything away from Chorley because they are a very good side and you can see why they've only lost one game.

"That's what we have to aspire to because we need to be on a run like Chorley have been on just to get out of trouble."

There were just nine minutes on the clock when a shot from Magpies midfielder Jake Cotterill hit Avenue centre back Shane Killock's shin. Home keeper Joe Cracknell had already moved to cover the initial effort as the ball flew in.

Avenue's few first-half efforts caused visiting keeper Sam Ashton no problems, although he was beaten twice in the second half but bailed out by his defenders on both occasions.

A minute into the second period, Chris Sharp was on the end of a set-piece inside Ashton's six-yard box and he propelled the ball forward under a challenge but it was somehow cleared off the line by Scott Leather.

Soon after that, Emile Sinclair – who had ploughed a lone furrow up front for the hosts – hooked the ball over a stranded Ashton but Leather was again on hand, this time heading clear for a corner.

The game was over as a contest ten minutes into the second half when Dale Whitham drilled in from ten yards after good work by wing back Paul Jarvis.

Whitham then added the gloss to the Magpies' win with an emphatic finish deep into stoppage time.