Bradford Park Avenue 1 Kidderminster Harriers 3

BRADFORD Park Avenue's good run in National North was halted by a home defeat against promotion-chasing Kidderminster Harriers – but the scoreline was harsh on Mark Bower's men.

Avenue played well but came up against a side in top form and packed with quality. On the evidence of this performance, whoever wins the title will need to finish above Kidderminster to do so.

John Eustace's side climbed one place to move into second spot and although now seven points behind leaders AFC Fylde are capable of closing the gap on current form (five wins in their last six games).

Kidderminster made their intentions known from the start and broke the deadlock in the fourth minute, Andre Brown slotting in at the far post after being picked out by Arthur Gnahoua.

Avenue boss Bower said: "They are a very good side and, by gifting them an early goal, we made it difficult for ourselves. We didn't pick him up and he had a tap-in really, although there was a suspicion of offside.

"He was definitely behind Spider (Avenue goalkeeper Jon Worsnop). There was a man on the line but he was goal-side of our keeper, so unless there was another man playing him on, it shouldn't have stood. There is no point complaining about it – but I'd like to see it back on video.

"Then there was what I thought was the turning point. We had a great chance to level when that shot flies just wide but they break and their lad hits a cracking goal into the top corner with his weaker foot.

"That's the kind of quality they've got and if they keep that team together, they will probably win the league. But I've heard that a lot of Football League clubs are looking at their three front lads and some bids might come in January."

It was Gnahoua, the provider of the first goal, who rifled in the second from the edge of the area, less than a minute after Danny Boshell had fired just wide.

That strike came just after the half-hour mark and the visitors added a third three minutes before the interval when Tyrell Waite rifled a shot into the roof of the net after cutting in from the right flank.

Avenue were facing a heavy defeat, despite playing well in the first half, and they began the second half in even more determined mood but without reward.

Bower began to make changes just before the hour mark and introduced John Cofie in the 67th minute.

Cofie's first effort on target was a volley saved by Harriers keeper Sam Hornby but his second was a header from point-blank range that reduced the deficit at a 78th-minute corner.