Frickley Athletic 1, Bradford Park Avenue 2

Bradford Park Avenue put themselves under needless late pressure after dominating most of this Evo-Stik League fixture at Premier Division neighbours Frickley Athletic.

Avenue were good value for their 2-0 lead going into the last three minutes following two goals by skipper Rob O’Brien.

But having snatched a late reply, the home side made things uncomfortable and came within inches of a dramatic equaliser.

Frickley had four former Avenue players in their starting line-up and another on the bench.

The visitors also had a makeshift centre-back pairing, with Amjad Iqbal ruled out long term and former club captain James Knowles also injured. Stalwart James Riley found Nathan Hotte alongside him.

A foul by Hotte gifted Frickley a tenth-minute free-kick in a dangerous area but Ben Turner’s effort hit the wall and was cleared. Riley also misjudged a ball into the box but goalkeeper John Lamb was alert and made a fine save.

They soon settled after a nervous opening and it was the home defence that were under pressure from Jordan Deacey, Michael Duckworth and O’Brien.

Avenue could not have timed their opening goal any better as it came in the last minute of the first half.

A bustling run by Aiden Savory from midfield ended with a pass to Matty James and he then found O’Brien, who spotted Steve Dickinson slightly out of position and made the most of that with a dipping shot.

Just seven minutes into the second half, former Avenue and Guiseley keeper Dickinson failed to cover himself in glory when he let in another.

This time Savory caught the keeper off his line and although his chip did not go in, O’Brien kept the ball in play and netted from an acute angle for his second.

Avenue had the ball in the net again on the hour mark when O’Brien and James combined but the latter player was ruled offside.

James had another chance minutes later but when his first attempt was parried by Dickinson, he blazed the loose ball wide of the gaping target from inside the six-yard box.

The debatable offside and glaring miss almost came back to haunt Avenue. When a through ball looked to be heading for a goal-kick, John Deacey’s men gave up on it but it was rescued and crossed in for Danny South to head home.

Avenue were stunned and in the last minute Frickley forced a free-kick and James Ashmore saw his effort cannon up off the bar before being scrambled for a corner.

That flag-kick also caused the Avenue defence anxious moments but it was eventually cleared and they held on for the win that kept them fifth in the table.