Vanarama National League North: Curzon Ashton 2 Bradford Park Avenue 1

THE weekend began well for Avenue, with news coming out late on Friday evening that they had secured midfielder Dylan Mottley-Henry and striker Reece Webb-Foster on loan deals from neighbours Bradford City.

However, it tailed off thanks to a narrow defeat at Curzon Ashton which plunged Avenue deeper into the relegation battle.

Martin Drury’s side dropped one place to 17th and are now just four points above the drop zone after they were leapfrogged by FC United of Manchester, who enjoyed a 3-2 home win over third-placed North Ferriby United.

The two young Bantams were both in the side as Webb-Foster joined Callum Chippendale, another Bradford City Academy product, up front.

That meant there was no place for Chib Chilaka, who was on the bench, and Lamin Colley, who was not in the squad.

Club captain Simon Ainge and second-top scorer Richard Marshall also missed out on the match-day squad as Drury tried to freshen things up, with his side looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats.

The first half at the Tameside Stadium was a very even affair, and that was reflected by the 1-1 scoreline at the break. The Nash had threatened early when Joe Guest’s eighth-minute corner came off the bar but Avenue broke the deadlock midway through the first half thanks to a very good finish from Chippendale.

Bradford led for just six minutes though as Daniel Cockerline soon levelled, with a superb chip over keeper Jon Stewart.

Avenue could have been back in front early in the second half but Craig King planted his header just wide.

Stewart denied Niall Cumming with a smart save just after the hour but the striker had the last word as he netted the winner from close range following a 70th-minute corner.