BRADFORD (Park Avenue) will visit Spennymoor Town on Wednesday in a play-off eliminator despite losing 3-2 at Chorley on the last day of the regular season in Vanarama National League North.

Avenue finished the campaign in seventh place - ahead of AFC Telford courtesy of a better goal difference of one after the Shropshire side lost 1-0 at York City.

Boss Mark Bower expressed his pride after his side reached the top seven play-offs for the second successive season.

He said: “It was a bit of a strange way to do it, we were looking for a positive result and although we didn’t get it we played well and we’re in there with a chance.

“Over the 42 games of the season we were one of the seven best clubs in the league and that is some achievement because we certainly haven’t got one of the biggest squads.

“We sat down with the directors at the start of the season and discussed the playing budget and expectations and we all said that a top-half finish would be a really good season.

“But we’ve done better than that and finished seventh again, the same as last season, and we’re delighted to be in the play-offs.

“With the small squad we’ve got we’ve done better than expected and the players deserve the credit that they’ll get from that.

“You only need to look at some of the clubs that we’ve finished above to realise just how well we’ve done, some really good sides have missed out on the play-offs.

“But we’re in it and the pressure’s off to an extent because the other clubs will be expected to go further than we do but we’ll give it our all and see where it takes us.”

Avenue lost by the odd goal in five in a nervy encounter at Chorley’s Victory Park as the hosts looked to reclaim the top spot they had lost the previous week.

But despite the Magpies winning their game, Stockport County’s 3-0 win at basement outfit Nuneaton Borough saw the Hatters crowned champions, earning the only automatic promotion place.

Avenue edged in front in a close game, played under difficult conditions due to Storm Hannah, from the penalty spot.

A mix-up in the Chorley defence saw Lewis Knight seize possession and he was about to round Matt Urwin when the keeper brought him down. Jake Beesley spotted the ball and beat Urwin from 12 yards.

The Magpies were level before the break as Louis Almond fired a shot in off the underside of the bar in the 44th minute.

Avenue keeper Charlie Andrew and Urwin had both made fine early second half saves before Chorley took a 54th-minute lead. It was Almond again, this time tapping in after a wind assisted long ball fooled Andrew.

But Bradford were level a minute later when great play from Lewis Knight saw Oli Johnson tap home.

The visitors looked to be heading for a deserved point when the Magpies snaffled a winner in the penultimate minute.

Almond was the hat-trick hero as he got past his man to claim his third goal with a neat finish.

However, news that York had beaten Telford mean Avenue are in the play-offs at Spennymoor. Altrincham host Blyth in the other eliminator on Wednesday.