A LUCA Havern header allowed Bradford (Park Avenue) to get back to winning ways by pulling off a great victory on the road at Darlington.

The winner came early in the first half when Lewis Knight crossed to the Avenue captain from a free kick which he nodded past Johnny Saltmer.

Mark Bower made three changes from the side that were defeated 2-1 at home against AFC Telford United at the weekend.

Jordan Windass, Ryan Toulson and Omar Sangyang all came in to replace the injured Mitch Lund, Nicky Clee and Adam Nowakowski.

Bradford were quick out of the gates. Isaac Marriott blasted over from distance before Harry Boyes forced ex-Horsfall man Ben Hedley to handle on the edge of the box.

The set piece was chipped into Havern who headed home to give the visitors a nice lead.

Although, the deficit was almost halved five minutes later, Dan Maguire's header struck the upright. The ball eventually fell to Tyrone O'Neill whose effort from 25 yards also crashed against the woodwork.

Knight was leading the away team's charge for a second. His low strike was turned away by the Quakers keeper.

Going into the second half, the hosts ramped up the pressure but were met by solid defending. Mark Ross had assumed the void left by Lund to form a great partnership with mate Havern.

Dan Atkinson saved brilliantly when Joe Wheatley blasted towards goal.

Park Avenue did well to counteract on the break. Sanyang provided Brad Dockerty with a 25 yard drive halted only by a wonderful Saltmer tip onto the bar.

Atkinson was at it again soon after, this time denying Jarrett Rivers. The substitute produced a cheeky chip which was met with a stretched limb.

Headley nearly haunted his former club and equalised in the dying minutes. The right back's effort brushed the bar in the final minute.

Avenue were able to hang on to capture consecutive 1-0 wins at Blackwell Meadows.

Bower's boys now sit ninth in the Vanarama National League North table after recording a fourth clean sheet of the season.

Speaking the day after the game, the Avenue boss said: "They (Darlington) were a good team. 

"They moved the ball really well and tried to take you out of your shape.

"They have been scoring plenty of goals recently as well, so we knew we had to deal with that. 

"Getting a goal first when you away from home always helps to then maybe sit back and catch them on the counter attack. It worked a treat. 

"Dan Atkinson tipped onto the bar but apart from that we restricted them to very little. 

"It was a good clean sheet against a good side.

"Sometimes it will go for you like it did last night and other times you will struggle to make a breakthrough like against Southport (2-0 defeat) and Telford."