BRADFORD (Park Avenue) secured another hard-fought three points at the expense of Blyth Spartans last night, leaving them on the brink of escaping the National League North relegation zone after an initially nightmare start to the season.

Avenue have now won three matches on the trot, but this was their first on the road all season, with a first-half strike from striker Jacob Blyth proving to be the only goal in a 1-0 victory.

His second goal of the season, Blyth looks to be discovering some form after grabbing his first of the campaign at the weekend.

Mark Bower was left pleased with his side’s triumph, which means they are now in the relegation zone on goal difference only, saying: “We’re pleased to win, and it was a good clean sheet.

“Coming away to Blyth on a Tuesday night is always a tough one, and we saw how good they were against Wrexham in the FA Cup last week.

“They’re very good at keeping the ball and pulling you around so you have to be very disciplined out of possession.

“In the first half I thought we pressed them well and restricted them to very little.

“We also scored a really good goal and I thought we had some good openings as well, so I was really pleased with us in that first 45 minutes.

“In the second half, we tired a little bit, and had to make a couple of enforced changes.

“We let them get into dangerous areas on too many occasions, but I thought the defending from that point was really, really good.

“You know the lads have kept going and for their effort, work rate, desire and commitment tonight, I’ll happily take three points.

“The lads in the dressing room will certainly enjoy them.”

It was a game of few chances early on at Croft Park, but the game quickly set alight thanks to an early strike from Blyth, who struck the ball through a crowd of bodies to propel Avenue into the lead.

Bradford found their groove with confidence now high, as Blyth and Eddie Church both came close to doubling the lead immediately afterwards.

The Spartans looked to respond before the half-time whistle, but George Sykes-Kenworthy was alert in the Avenue goal to deny Corey McKeown and Cedric Main.

Blyth were the better side at the start of the second half, with Graham Fenton’s side coming close again through Jordan Hickey, JJ O’Donnell and finally McKeown, who bent a strike narrowly wide of Sykes-Kenworthy’s goal.

A worrying moment for Bradford saw captain Gianluca Havern forced off with an injury and replaced by Will Longbottom.

Blyth’s second half pressure continued, with McKeown at the centre of the action.

The young winger latched on to former Doncaster Rovers prodigy Liam Ravenhill’s cross, but could only scuff his shot into the ground.

With Avenue defending heroically and Sykes-Kenworthy eager to keep his clean sheet, Blyth made one last push for an equaliser.

But the former Bradford City shot-stopper gathered a well-struck effort from Nicky Deverdics in the dying moments to ensure the three points for his side.

Avenue are next in action on Saturday back at Horsfall Stadium against Brackley Town.

A point might be enough to lift them out of the bottom four, but Brackley will provide stiff opposition, as they currently sit up in third place.