Burscough 2, Bradford Park Avenue 3

Chib Chilaka’s loan spell ran out yesterday but if Saturday was to be his last game for Bradford Park Avenue, he gave them the best possible leaving present.

The Bantams striker netted an injury-time winner that handed Avenue three Evo-Stik League Premier Division points that had looked extremely unlikely.

Burscough had dominated the first half and led 2-0 midway through that period.

Bradford chairman John Dean said: “It was not a good start for us as we were well off the pace and Burscough were quicker to everything.

“When they got their two early goals it looked as though they would get more, to be honest.

“I think I’m right in saying we have never lost at Burscough. Down the years it has been one of our lucky grounds.

“That was all I was clinging to at that point but it worked out all right for us because this win has lifted us up to tenth, just nine points off second place with two games in hand.”

The home side broke the deadlock in the tenth minute when the Avenue defence were caught napping. Diminutive but lively striker Kevin Leadbetter latched on to the ball and lashed it into the corner of the net.

Midway through the first half, Avenue midfielder David Briggs made a careless pass in the hosts’ area. That gave Burscough the chance to launch a counter-attack and it culminated in a good, low shot from Darren Byers that doubled the lead.

Avenue got a crucial strike before half-time so they were only one goal adrift going into the break. A good cross from Steve Burton picked out Aidan Savory and he planted a header inside the near post.

Having got into the game, John Deacey’s men were on top in terms of possession and territory in the second half but it took them a while to fashion an equaliser and they did not level until the 86th minute.

Right back Stephen Downes had got forward and turned in a testing cross. Once again Savory got a powerful header to it and ball nestled in the corner.

Chilaka had watched a lot of the game from the bench but, having come on, he did what he had to.

Just into injury time, Downes sent in another cross but this time it was much deeper and it found Savory, who had drifted out to the left.

He turned it back into the middle and Chilaka brought the ball down with his back to goal before drilling in a decisive shot.