GOALS from Connor Branson and Macauley Langstaff guided Bradford (Park Avenue) to a 2-1 win over Leamington in the Vanarama National League North last night.

Mark Bower's side took the lead in the third minute as Branson fired a 25-yard shot into the top corner, beating Leamington goalkeeper and captain Tony Breeden.

But the visitors equalised in the 25th minute when a shot hit Avenue's crossbar before Ahmed Obeng smashed in the rebound.

However, Leamington's parity wouldn't last long as Avenue scored the eventual winner in the 40th minute.

Luca Havern fired the ball forward to Lewis Knight, who laid it off to Jake Beesley and then on to Langstaff, who finished into the top corner.

Avenue had a chance to extend their lead at the end of the first-half.

A corner was whipped in, finding skipper Shane Killock's head but his effort went over the bar.

Avenue picked a number of bookings at the start of the second-half, as first goalscorer Langstaff and Alex Hurst each receive a yellow card in a scrappy start after the interval.

Substitute Danny East, on for Langstaff, almost made an immediate impact three minutes after coming on as his effort from the edge of the box went just wide.

Lewis Knight was next to have a chance in the 74th minute as his cross flashes across the box with no Avenue body there to meet it.

Leamington, who slipped to 17th place, made a double substitution with 15 minutes left in a bid to salvage at least a point, as Joe Clarke replaced Connor Gudger, while Jack Lane came on for Connor Taylor.

Avenue almost had a third in the 77th minute when Hurst played in Beesley, who came inside but could only shoot wide.

The hosts hung on for a vital victory in their play-off charge. Avenue move up to fifth in the table on 54 points, the same tally as Brackley Town in fourth and AFC Telford United in sixth.