Avenue suffer title setback

9:01pm Sunday 20th April 2008

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Woodley Sports 1, Bradford Park Avenue 0

Avenue will have to pick themselves up from a shock defeat tomorrow night if they are to keep the UniBond Division One North title within their grasp.

They were odds-on favourites to take three points from basement outfit Woodley Sports yesterday but the Stockport outfit put a spanner in the works. Instead of the leaders picking up the expected victory to extend their lead at the summit, it was Woodley who climbed off the foot of the table.

Avenue boss Dave Cameron has sent out a message to his players that they are still in the box seat and are there by right not fortune and they can repay his belief in them at home to Ossett Albion tomorrow.

Always an intense derby between the West Yorkshire rivals, this clash will have an extra edge. Albion won at the weekend to haul themselves back into the play-off places and will be desperate to consolidate their position.

If Avenue turn in anything less than a determined performance, Albion will dent their challenge further. However, Cameron's men have had a timely warning and will be keen to bank six points from their last two games.

They began well at Woodley and looked the most likely to break the deadlock in a bright opening. The home keeper pushed a Paul Gedman header for a corner and, from the flag-kick, Paul Stoneman headed narrowly wide.

A later driven centre from Mark Bett hit a defender's leg and deflected wide with Avenue forwards queuing up in the area. They enjoyed more possession throughout the half but failed to produce any more goalmouth action.

Woodley took the lead just after the hour and by then it was no surprise as they had stealthily crept into the contest. Pat McGuire swung a low cross into the area and Andy Farrell stooped to head over Avenue keeper Jon Worsnop.

The Bradford side battled on but it was never going to be their day. Chances were sparse and there were just two noteworthy points as the game slipped away.

With just 16 minutes to go, a Danny Warner cross from the left picked out Tris Whitman but the unmarked striker headed over from six yards. A later penalty claim fell on deaf ears when a Stoneman header from Chris Gaghan's corner appeared to strike a defender's arm before hitting the post and going wide.

Winger Chris Williams limped off with a hamstring injury so is doubtful for tomorrow evening and Gareth Morris, who was left out of the squad on Saturday, is ruled out as he begins a two-match suspension.

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