BRADFORD (Park Avenue) crashed to a 5-1 defeat against EFL opposition last night.

The first half started badly for Avenue against League One side Rotherham United with Millers striker Olayinka Lapado pouncing in the first minute to give the away side an early lead.

This advantage was doubled in the 10th minute after new Avenue signing Ryan Cresswell got caught on the ball just inside his side's half by Ben Wiles, who could only manage to find the post with his effort. However, this was tapped home by Kyle Vassell for his first of the evening.

Avenue’s first half-chance of the game came in the 23rd minute after some good footwork by a trialist on the left-hand side. The hosts won a corner but didn’t make use of the chance.

In the 27th minute Rotherham found the net again after a free-kick, which wasn’t dealt with by the Avenue defence, and found Vassell for his second of the game.

Ten minutes later good work by Vassell down the Avenue right found Jamie Proctor in the middle, whose subsequent shot was saved by home keeper Charlie Andrew. Unfortunately for the Avenue Daniel Barlaser was on hand to give the visitors a 4-0 lead.

Vassell completed his hat-trick just before half-time after finding himself on the end of Matthew Olusundae’s cross.

Avenue manager Garry Thompson asked his side for a reaction in the second half, one which they managed to deliver with a much-improved performance after the break.

The Avenue finally made the breakthrough in the 77th minute when assistant manager Shaun Gardner managed to get himself on the end of one of the trialist's crosses, following on from some decent build-up play in the Rotherham half.