Tamworth 5, Bradford Park Avenue 1

BRADFORD Park Avenue host new leaders AFC Fylde today still looking for their first National League North win this season following Saturday's heavy defeat at the Lamb Ground.

Two late goals slanted the scoreline in favour of Andy Morell's hosts but Tamworth were deserved winners of what had been a tight game.

Avenue boss Alex Meechan handed debuts to new signings Joe Kearns and Michael Monaghan but the newcomers encountered vastly different fortunes.

Midfielder Monaghan capped his first game with his side's only goal but defender Kearns committed a handball in the penultimate minute that led to the penalty which wrapped up the scoring.

Meechan had been trying to freshen up his squad after suffering back-to-back defeats but the injection of the new pair failed to have the desired effect.

The home side broke the deadlock through Connor Taylor in the 19th minute when he fired past Ryan Jones after the Avenue keeper had only parried an initial shot.

Lambs stopper James Belshaw, who is also their captain, was beaten ten minutes later as Monaghan slotted into the net after a great through-ball from Nicky Wroe caused the defence problems.

Parity only lasted a minute as the Lambs regained the advantage on the half-hour mark when Jack Lane leaped above the visitors' defence to head home a well delivered free-kick.

The first half had been close but the game soon got away from Avenue as Tamworth doubled their lead just five minutes after the break. Jones could only watch as Jed Davies skilfully chipped over him and the ball went in off the underside of the bar.

Meechan made changes to try to get his side back in it as, over a 20-minute spell either side of the hour mark, Liam Dickinson, Nicky Boshell and Chris Sharp were all introduced from the bench, the latter player for scorer Monaghan.

Yet it was the home side's substitutes Louis Briscoe and Ross Dyer who had the final word. Briscoe netted a superb dipping shot from 20-plus yards four minutes from time and Dyer sent Jones the wrong way from the spot after Kearns had been penalised.

Today's visitors Fylde will be in good spirits after climbing to the summit by edging a thriller 3-2 at home over Avenue's neighbours FC Halifax Town on Saturday.