Cameron hails Avenue's desire

3:41pm Sunday 13th April 2008

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Park Avenue 3 Wakefield 1

They had to come from a goal down after a very poor first half but Avenue battled back for the three points to keep their title challenge on track.

Avenue showed pure guts and determination, embodied by man of the match Tom Baker, to snatch the win.

Another at home against second from bottom Bridlington Town tomorrow night will see the Bradford side go top of UniBond Division One with four games remaining.

Two goals in the last seven minutes made the difference against a Wakefield side who dominated periods of the game but remain in seventh place.

Avenue are now second, one point behind leaders Curzon Ashton - who were held to a goalless draw at Harrogate Railway Athletic - but with a game in hand.

"We didn't play well but it was all about commitment, and teams that win things pick up points when they aren't playing well," said boss Dave Cameron.

"We now go into tomorrow with confidence high once more." Cameron added: "The first half was dreadful because we were so bad, off the pace and giving possession away. I went mad when I got the players in at half-time, ballistic. It worked because within 90 seconds we were level.

"Then we went to sleep again, took our foot off the accelerator, so I had to do something from the bench - make changes and get instructions on - and thankfully it came good in the end."

Avenue had the strong wind in their favour in the first half but did not make the most of the conditions.

Diminutive striker Tris Whitman was having no joy. Not only were the visitors packed with towering defenders but the pitch, which was only passed fit half an hour before the game - which was delayed by 15 minutes - was not a surface conducive to neat football.

Wakefield striker Chris Howarth gave his side a deserved lead in the 36th minute when he turned well and rifled the ball into the top corner from just inside the area.

Just 30 seconds into the second half, Whitman got on the end of a diagonal cross to hit the post. The ball was scrambled for a corner and Danny Warner whipped it across for Mark Bett to score his first goal for Avenue with a close-range header.

The Wibsey-based player was also involved in Avenue's other two goals.

In the 83rd minute, a Warner free-kick was flicked on by Paul Gedman, Bett helped it into the danger area and substitute Mike Moseley forced the ball over the line with his shin.

Two minutes later Baker won the ball in midfield and sent Bett away on the left flank from which he turned in a pinpoint cross which Gedman dispatched with a solid header.