Hinckley United 1 Bradford Park Avenue 4

Bradford Park Avenue would be right on the verge of the play-offs in the Blue Square Bet North Division with a home win tomorrow night after a fourth victory on the spin kept them firmly in the hunt.

Avenue were expected to beat basement outfit Hinckley United on Saturday but the already condemned Leicestershire outfit made Deacey’s men earn their three points. Hinckley are free of any pressure so are playing without fear and made life difficult for their visitors.

The deadlock was not broken until the 27th minute when Danny Holland netted a superb chip from distance, leaving Hinckley keeper Ashley Timms stranded. Just 12 minutes later it was 2-0 when Bradford captain Nathan Hotte slotted a shot under Timms.

On loan Bantam Adam Baker came off the bench soon after as a replacement for Alex Davidson who had been trying to run off an earlier injury.

The spirited home side pulled a goal back just before the break when their skipper emulated Avenue’s. Whatever Hotte could do Jarrod Pickering proved he could also as he shot in from inside the area.

Hinckley were lifted by the goal and came out for the second half with renewed vigour. In a very good spell they almost equalised on more than one occasion but Avenue stood firm and that was the springboard for their comfortable win.

The visitors began to dominate possession and territory and the chances were coming again. Hotte put his side 3-1 up in the 67th minute with a strong run and shot following a good move, from then, with the home side’s resistance broken, Avenue were never going to get anything less than all three points.

Just to put the gloss on the win Baker opened his Avenue account when he netted a back heeled effort. The young striker was in the area and when Paul Walker pounced on a defensive error, he picked Baker out with a sharp pass.

Avenue face Oxford City at Horsfall Stadium tomorrow night knowing that another win will take them above Harrogate Town and into sixth place.

Fifteenth placed Oxford, however, will also be in high spirits after their 2-1 victory at eighth placed Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday.

Jamie Price returned from suspension and was in the starting line-up at Hinckley but Jordan Deacey was sidelined through injury. He remains doubtful, along with  Davidson and Michael Duckworth, as the games come at break-neck speed.

The reverse fixture at Oxford is this Wednesday night before Avenue host Droylsden this coming Saturday.