Avenue stretched their unbeaten league run to four matches with a hard-earned point in a 1-1 draw with fifth-placed Ashton United.

But the visitors maintained their ten-match unbeaten record at Horsfall Stadium, thanks only to the scrappy conditions according to Bradford skipper Wayne Benn.

"It wasn't a good pitch and that really didn't help us," said Benn, who admitted he was frustrated the home side could only manage a 1-1 draw despite taking the lead.

"No disrepect to Ashton but I think it suited them more as the pitch cut up and it became harder to play football.

"It is difficult at this time of year but all we can do is keep plugging away."

Jason Maxwell was back in the Bradford squad after recovering from a fractured cheekbone.

Although out of action for two months, the striker had only missed four matches due to the severe weather.

In the visitors' team were former Avenue players Phil Denney and Lee Connor

Avenue missed a glorious chance to take the lead after just eight minutes when Benn sent Andy Hayward into the clear, but with only keeper Danny Trueman to beat he fired wide from six yards.

Two minutes later Phil Denney went close to opening the scoring after getting the better of Graham Mitchell only to see his dipping volley tipped over the bar by Jamie Holmshaw.

Avenue broke the deadlock in the 12th minute with a superb goal from Andy Wright, his first for the club.

It came from a break down the right, Hayward kept the ball in play by the corner flag before laying it back to Danny Walsh whose cross into the box was hooked into the net by Wright.

But the visitors came back into it and it was no surprise when Ashton drew level seven minutes before the interval. A loose clearance from Andy Quinn ran straight to Steve Smith and he beat Jamie Holmshaw with a well-struck shot from 25 yards.

The lively Smith almost added a second in stoppage time when he fired inches over the crossbar after collecting a right-wing cross.

l Avenue entertain Eccleshill United on Wednesday in the West Riding County Cup.