Bradford Park Avenue 1 Boston United 2

Bradford Park Avenue produced a good effort but are still seeking a first win of the season in National League North after being edged out by a strong Boston side.

The visitors were seeking back-to-back victories after Saturday’s last-gasp 2-1 win over Curzon Ashton, while Avenue saw their match at Chorley abandoned following a serious leg injury to Jake Hibbs.

Fans rally to help Bradford Park Avenue's Jake Hibbs

Boston started brightly and led after four minutes when Jake Wright Jnr met a cross to nod home from close range. They continued to have the upper hand and Wright Jnr saw another effort saved well by goalkeeper Johnny Saltmer before Avenue responded in the final 15 minutes of the half.

Luke Rawson and Rob Guilfoyle linked to set up Issac Marriott, whose 20-yard strike was well saved by goalkeeper George Sykes-Kenworthy. Two attempts by Adam Nowakowski were cleared off the visitors’ line while at the other end, Danny Elliott and Platt were denied by Saltmer.

Guilfoyle saw a curling effort go inches wide from 20 yards but a minute from the break Avenue were deservedly level as Jordan Windass saw his stunning 35-yard strike hit the top corner.

The decisive goal came seven minutes into the second half. Jake Leake pulled the ball back into the path of Danny Elliott, and the striker found the back of the net from close range.

Avenue grafted hard against strong opponents and they showed real determination throughout but Boston were not to be denied.

Wright Jnr sent a header wide before Preston was denied by a superb save from Saltmer. The hosts launched a final push but a last-minute header was cleared off the line to leave them second-bottom of the table.

Afterwards Avenue manager Mark Bower praised his side’s efforts but conceded that a strong Boston outfit deserved the victory.

Bower said: “After the weekend, playing so soon after what happened, I think you could see, certainly in the first half hour, we were a little tentative. We weren’t picking up second balls like they were. Obviously the effects of what happened and what the lads witnessed at the weekend played a part in it.”

Avenue’s response and the goal just before the break pleased Bower but he was disappointed to give a goal away after weathering the early second half storm.

He added: “We kept going but struggled to break them down. They are a very strong team. Later on we had a few bits bouncing in an around their box but it just didn’t really fall for us. The lads kept going and I thought the efforts were there.”

Bradford Park Avenue: Saltmer, Windass, Downing, Nowakowski, Havern, Lund, Marriott, Francis, Rawson, Guilfoyle, Odunston. Subs: Toulson, Clee, Hill, Johnson, Bolton.

Boston United: Sykes-Kenworthy, Platt, Garner, Shiels, Burrow, Wright Jnr, Ferguson, Elliott, Dimaio, Byrne, Leake. Subs: Duxbury, Thanoj, Green, J Preston, F Preston.

Attendance: 723.