Harrogate Town and Bradford P A must replay on Monday evening after a 1-1 F A Trophy draw at the C N G Stadium.
Leigh Franks returned from injury for Town,but he was destined to play only until half time.
Ex Townie,Chib Chilaka made an early impression with a deep cross from which Matt Bloomer conceded an early corner.
Town countered with Cleveland Taylor’s 40 yards pass releasing Chris Hall, but John Lamb moved quickly off his line to snuff out the danger.
Town maintained the pressure and Hall had an effort blocked on the line from another Taylor cross.
However, on 25 minutes Town took the lead.
The Avenue defence could only clear a Dave Merris cross as far as Matt Bloomer and he returned the ball across goal for Hall to beat Lamb with a looping header.
A trademark,Leigh Franks long throw found Hall but his header was cleared off the line by Scott Maxfield.
Avenue missed chances to hit back with Chilaka miskicking Jordan Deacey’s free kick and Deacey himself stabbed Chilaka’s cross into the side netting.
Unfortunately,just before the break Leigh Franks fell awkwardly and had to be replaced by Alex Metcalfe.
Park Avenue upped the tempo and both Bloomer and Craig MacGillivray had to block efforts from Nathan Hotte.
For Town,a 35 yard snap shot from Merris sailed over the bar,but on the hour Avenue equalised.
The Town defence failed to clear a left wing centre and Nicky Boshell shot in from close range.
Liam Hardy and Hall made way for Dominic Rowe and Paul Beesley,but it was Town’s”Man of the Match”, Anton Brown who posed the main threat.
After having a shot blocked from a Beesley cut back, Brown’s 30 yard swerver flashed narrowly wide of the Bradford goal.
Minutes later,Brown’s low drive forced Lamb to desperately concede a corner.
Both sides squandered late chances for victory.
After a couple of Avenue near misses, it was Town who almost snatched a late win.
A loose back pass enabled Brown to lob Lamb,but Avenue scrambled the ball clear,before in stoppage time two low crosses from Adam Mitchell found no takers.
Town, 1 MacGillivray, 2 Bloomer, 3 Merris,4 Bolder (c), 5 Franks (Metcalfe 45 mins), 6 Brown,
7 Taylor, 8 Mitchell, 9 Hardy (Rowe 63), 10 Hall ( Beesley 53), 11 Nelthorpe.
Unused subs, 12 Worsfold, 17 Crook. Bookings nil
Scorer Hall 25 minutes.
Att 572
