Bradford (Park Avenue) fight back to earn point

Mark Bower's men were on a high after ending previously unbeaten Chorley's run last Saturday but they were brought down to earth in the opening stages at Horsfall.

Jordan Nicholson found the top corner from distance after only two minutes to put the visitors in front.

And the Quakers went two up when Nicholson netted a second with a shot into the corner of the net from inside the box.

Stunned into life, Avenue pulled one back just three minutes later when Oli Johnson headed home at the far post after Lewis Knight's effort was parried.

That lifted the home crowd but Steve Drench prevented Darlington from restoring their two-goal advantage when he saved from Stephen Thompson after he had got behind the defence.

Knight forced a save from Zach Hemming, who was making his debut for the visitors on loan from Middlesbrough.

And then Nicky Clee - on as an early substitute for the injured Danny Lowe - levelled for Avenue on 39 minutes, rifling into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

There was more drama to come in an action-packed first half as Darlington were awarded a penalty when Luca Havern brought down Joe Wheatley.

But Drench - who had just been named in the League team of the week - saved the spot-kick.

The second half was less eventful but both sides had opportunities.

The Quakers went close on 59 minutes when Luke Trotman won possession on the half way line and found Nicholson running into the box, who was inches wide with a right-foot shot from ten yards.

But Bradford responded as Johnson struck a low shot that Hemming saved low down.

Clee, Jake Beesley and Ben McKenna also went close while Terry Galbraith threatened at the other end.

A draw was probably a fair result as Avenue's point kept them third in the table ahead of Saturday's trip to York City.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Lowe (Clee 7), Wroe (McKenna 61), Killock, Havern, Spencer, Branson, Beesley, Johnson, Knight (Hurst 83).