Bradford (Park Avenue) bowed out of the FA Cup after losing 3-2 at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels in the preliminary round on Saturday.
Both of Avenue’s goals came in the second half, but their late comeback attempt proved to be in vain.
With only five minutes of the game gone, Stocksbridge were the first on the score sheet as they took an early lead.
Alex Hardwick struck a shot that flashed past Avenue keeper Craig Ellison at the near post and put the visitors in front.
Five minutes later, Stocksbridge should have doubled their lead.
They found themselves two against one, but blew the opportunity, not even giving Ellison any work to do as they shot wide.
Ben Whelan produced some fine defending to keep out a devilish ball into the Avenue box, before the home side began to gain a foothold.
Harry Colville’s free kick caused no real danger for the visitors, but they were panicking just a few moments later.
There was a goal line scramble in the away side’s box, which caused the Avenue players to start celebrating, as they insisted the ball had crossed their line, but the referee waved away their appeals.
Avenue tried to get the equaliser again as Colville found Alex Francis, but he fired his shot miles over the bar.
The hosts then failed to make the most of the corner and were made to pay just before the break.
Avenue found themselves two goals down when Danny Deakin gave Ellison no chance with a stunning backheeled finish.
The game looked to be slipping away for the home side as the second half wore and a frustrated Luke Hogg saw yellow for them just after the hour mark.
Ellison then kept out a Stocksbridge free kick, which allowed Avenue to get back into the game with 13 minutes to go as Francis blasted an effort into the net to halve the deficit.
But Stocksbridge killed off any hopes of a comeback with a goal in the first minute of added time from substitute Joao Silva.
The last action of the game saw Avenue score a second goal through former Bantams midfielder Connor Shanks, but it came as just a mere consolation.
Manager Danny Whitaker will have to raise his side when they return to Horsfall tomorrow, as they take on neighbours Brighouse Town in the Northern Premier League East Division.
Avenue currently sit 13th, having won one and lost one so far in the league.
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