BRADFORD (Park Avenue) enjoyed a happy Halloween, after they stunned high-flying Gloucester City with a 2-1 home win last night to move out of the National League North relegation zone.

It had been a tricky start to the season for Mark Bower’s Avenue side, who did not win any of their first 10 league games, but it is their opposition who are now running scared, with this latest success at Horsfall making it 12 points from the last possible 15.

It was all treat for Avenue last night, as goals from Jacob Blyth and Brad Dockerty secured a crucial victory.

Matt McClure did originally pull the game level for Gloucester, but a second half strike from Dockerty, his first at Horsfall after returning from Alfreton Town earlier this season, was enough for Bradford.

Bower was left delighted with his side, saying after the game: “We're happy to win, but, as I've said before, the league table will take care of itself when we pick points up.

"That's four wins out of five now, so obviously we're moving in the right direction and it was a really good performance tonight.

"I thought for large spells we were the better team, had better chances, and produced far more efforts on goal."

Analysing the game's key moments, Bower said: “We got in front with a really good goal.

"I think it was Reece (Staunton) and Will (Longbottom) who worked it really well down the left hand side, it was a great delivery in from Will and Blythy scores a really good centre-forward's goal.

"He gets past his man, makes sure he's first to the ball and he's just able to help it in.

“We had a couple of good chances after that, and then we just got done, with what was probably the first time they got in our penalty area.

"There was plenty of not clearing the ball when we had a few opportunities to get rid of it.

"We invited pressure on and we were a bit unfortunate to concede really, with the goal being deflected.

"That obviously meant we came into half-time at 1-1, but we felt we were the better side.

"We came out and produced similarly in the second half to get our reward.

“We had a good effort which they just managed to scramble off the line, but you just felt it was coming.

"It was nice when Brad picked up the ball on the edge of the box from a set-play and struck it well, even if a little deflection helped it on its way in.”

Gloucester currently sat third in the division, so went into the game as favourites despite being away from home.

But they were behind after just four minutes, as a teasing cross from Longbottom was expertly tucked home by the in-form Blyth, for his third goal in four games.

Bradford looked to double their advantage on the half-hour mark, but Sam Fielding’s goalbound effort was deflected over the bar.

And they were be punished minutes later, as the experienced McClure drew the scores level with a well-struck strike from within the box.

It took a nick on its way through, leaving former Bradford City shot-stopper George Sykes-Kenworthy with little chance.

Even more worrying for Avenue, given the sheer number of fixtures coming up in the next two months, was an injury to defender Mitch Lund, who was forced off before half-time.

The experienced Simon Richman came on to replace him.

Heading into the second half, Avenue looked to restore their lead through Longbottom, but his strike was heroically cleared off of the line by Ben Morgan.

Soon after, Bradford did go back in front thanks to Dockerty.

Following a free-kick on the edge of the box, the ball fell to the talented forward, who hammered the ball into the back of the net, with the aid of a deflection.

Longbottom is a man in form having scored against Curzon Ashton and Brackley Town in recent weeks, and following a foul on Eddie Church, he saw a curling free-kick well stopped by Brandon Hall.

Gloucester put on the pressure in the final few minutes, as Josh Owers forced Sykes-Kenworthy into a save, before McClure struck the crossbar in the dying moments.

But a combination of resilient defending from Bradford and that little bit of luck at the last saw them secure a pivotal three points, and pulling them free of the relegation zone.

Avenue could drop back into the bottom four tonight though, depending on Kettering Town and Boston United's results against Banbury United and Alfreton respectively.

Bower’s side are next in action on Saturday, making the trip to mid-table Chester for a 3pm kick-off.