Bradford (Park Avenue) were unable to make it three wins in a row after drawing 1-1 at home to Ashton United in the Northern Premier League Premier Division on Saturday.

However, that share of the spoils with their mid-table visitors gets Avenue closer to moving out of the relegation zone, and they now sit just three points from safety.

Jake Daniels, a young forward on loan from Blackpool, was the hero for the hosts, as he thundered home a sensational late equaliser for the hosts after Ashton had taken the lead around the hour mark.

With two minutes of the first half played, the visitors were quick to try and take the lead with a link-up between Brad Abbott and Alex Byrne, the latter unlucky to put his shot over the bar.

Two minutes later, they tried their luck again when Sean Newton played a perfectly weighted ball through to Alex Byrne.

He tried to chip the ball into the net, after getting the wrong side of Avenue defender Mason O’Malley, but cleared the crossbar with his effort.

Byrne tried again moments later, coming closer than he had yet, but this time his shot hit the post.

Avenue's first chance of the game came from Will Lancaster, who had a go from 25 yards out but was unfortunate to shoot wide.

Ashton were looking by far the more dangerous in the opening 15 minutes, with Byrne going close again, sending a strike wide of the goal following a well-worked corner, that chance coming off the back of his team-mate Jason Gilchrist heading just wide from a fine Luke Burke cross. 

With 20 minutes gone, Bradford thought they had score against the run of play. 

A free kick was beautifully headed home by Edy Maieco, but unfortunately the flag went up for offside and the goal was disallowed.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Edy Maieco almost gave Avenue the lead, despite Ashton's dominance early on.Edy Maieco almost gave Avenue the lead, despite Ashton's dominance early on. (Image: John Rhodes.)

Avenue restricted Ashton's chances as the half wore on, and they fashioned two decent attempts of their own before the break.

A shot towards the bottom left corner from Chinedu Osadebe was saved well by United keeper Paul Cooper, who was able to get a strong hand on the strike.

Harry Colville had a chance to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, but the Avenue midfielder's powerful strike from the edge of the box was well stopped by Cooper.

Within seven minutes of the second half gone, Avenue's on-loan keeper Kieran Flavell had to be alert to deny Gilchrist, charging out to block when the ball fell to the visitors' prolific striker just six yards out.

But Gilchrist was not to be denied again soon after, as he put Ashton ahead just after the hour mark.

He stole in to head a corner beyond Flavell and into the net from three yards out, netting his 16th goal of the season in the process.

Bradford almost conceded a killer second goal soon after, only for them to smuggle James Hardy's effort off the line.

This Avenue side have shown a bit of added steel over the last few weeks, and their reward for that came through a stunning equaliser from Daniels after 78 minutes.

Harrison Hopper hassled an Ashton man into losing possession 30 yards out from his own goal, and the loose ball popped up in the air via Daniels' heel.

He took the ball down, took a step forward, before arrowing a sensational strike with his right foot beyond the despairing dive of Cooper and into the top corner.

A shell-shocked Ashton were suddenly fighting to hold on to their point, with Lancaster firing a strike just wide and a low curling effort from Maieco forcing a save out of Cooper.

This coming Saturday, Avenue could overtake Basford United, who are not in action, and move out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

To do so they would need to win by four clear goals, a tough ask away to a Marine side who could go second with a home victory.