Burton 3, Park Avenue 0 - Nigel Clough's Burton Alb-ion opened up a ten-point lead at the top of the Uni-Bond Premier Division with a victory over Bradford Park Avenue at Eton Park.

The former Liverpool and Nottingham Forest ace, who is player-manager at the Stafford-shire club, led by example when he rifled in a free-kick to give his side the lead in an eventful Boxing Day meeting.

Avenue lost skipper Mark Hancock after just 30 minutes with a suspected broken nose, and finished the game with ten men when centre back Micky Thompson was shown a second yellow card after a tackle from behind.

All of that was harsh on Avenue, who played their full part in a game in which they conceded two disputed goals and a third, to totally slant the scoreline in the home side's favour, in stoppage time.

The holiday fixture and the fact that both sides had suffered postponements last Sat-urday brought the supporters out in force.

The biggest attendance in the UniBond this season had 2,141 cheering on the teams as Bur-ton eclipsed their own record.

The promotion battle earlier this month when Altrincham were the visitors set a then-highest attendance of 1,712.

One thing is sure - all the supporters leaving the ground had a new-found respect for Trevor Storton's Avenue after they pushed the runaway leaders all the way.

Burton deserved their victory on overall performance but they were under-par in the first half. Clough got in their first shot on goal - a long-range effort on the half-hour, but Rob Montgomery easily saved.

Minutes later Hancock was injured in an aerial challenge with Christian Moore and took no further part in the match.

Already under-strength when Wayne Benn pulled out at the last minute with flu, Avenue had to re-shuffle and striker Lee Potter came on for his first appearance since a two-week suspension and Andy Quinn slipped into the back four.

Less than four minutes from the interval Clough was awarded a hotly disputed free-kick and netted the 20-yard strike with a daisy cutter into the corner of the net.

Avenue were unfortunate not to level in the 65th minute when James Stansfield shot over from just outside the six- yard area following a corner.

Eight minutes later Burton took a 2-0 lead amid greater controversy than for the first goal. Sean Farrell's pass found Moore in what seemed an offside position, but play was allowed to continue and he beat Montgomery with a low shot.

Thompson and Andy Hay-ward were then booked for protesting at the decision. Within a minute Thompson tackled Moore from behind and was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

As the game entered the final minute, Montgomery made an excellent double save to deny Moore and substitute Steve Evans. But Evans pounced to slot the second rebound home and give Burton what looked like an easy win.

Farsley Celtic suffered their second postponement in five days yesterday when their UniBond Division One derby with Guiseley at Throstle Nest was called off because of a frozen pitch.

"The referee walked out onto the surface at about 2.15pm and decided it was not playable," said Celtic secretary Nick Gill.

"It's a big disappointment to supporters of both clubs and the players who have not over-indulged on Christmas Day.

"It was the second time in a week that we have had a home game postponed, and it hurts. But I'm sure the referee had the interests of the players at heart.

"No-one would want to see any player picking up a broken leg, especially at this time of the year."