Park Avenue were our first ever opponents at the Bannister Prentice Stadium back in August 1998 for a pre-season friendly, with Dave Parker's newly-promoted side romping to a 4-1 win. Parker and members of that team were present on Saturday as Town put in an outstanding team performance to beat our neighbours for the first time at home since then, and our first here competitively.

Paul Marshall's side were quick out of the traps with Dexter Ball's turn and shot into the side netting, then Rinor Ejupi's header from Max Tweddle's corner pushed wide by Avenue keeper Maison Campbell. The pressure soon told with The Miners giving themselves the lead on 11 mins. Ejupi's header from another Tweddle corner was blocked on the line, but only to Owen Marshall who poked home.

Five minutes later Campbell's long-punt forward caught the Town defence cold and found Marcus Carver who's shot was saved by Harry Flatters. The rebound came to Adam Haw who fired into the side netting.

The Miners had to battle against the play-off chasing visitors whose persistent grappling was already provoking the ire of home supporters. Once such incident came on 20 mins when Luke Aldrich looked to have been held when a Tweddle corner was recycled into the box, but the referee waved away Town's appeals.

A good spell for Avenue followed with a Daniel Francis header from Luke Hendrie's ball into the box just beyond the far post. The equaliser came on 26 mins when Connor Brown's long throw was headed on to Haw who volleyed beyond Flatters into the net. The game ebbed and flowed from then until the break. Ball's searching delivery was well-read by Brown who headed clear at close range with attackers waiting, then at the other end the industrious fullback twisted and turned in the box and forced a save from Flatters at the near post. Ejupi was in with a chance as half time approached from a loose ball from another Ball delivery, but his shot was straight at Campbell.

The Miners had the better of the chances second half with the Avenue threat largely snuffed out by determined Town defending. Ejupi's curling effort went just wide of the far post on 50 mins, but we retook the lead three minutes later. Ball's low drive found Aldrich whose shot was parried by Campbell to Charlie Marshall who slotted home the rebound. His first goal since his hattrick at Redcar in January. Excellent work by Marshall shortly after that almost played in Aldrich for a third, his effort beating Campbell but bobbling wide. After a spell of Avenue pressure, Garforth broke forward on 71 mins to increase their advantage. Ejupi found Charlie Marshall to his left just inside the box who swept home for his second of the game and ninth of the season.

A couple of double substitutions injected pace into the BPA attack making for a nervy end to the game for home supporters despite the two-goal lead. Happily for Garforth, Flatters wasn't really tested. Marcus Carver went close with a low shot into the side netting, sub Billy Whaite hit narrowly wide when a free-kick into the box was headed on, and in injury time Beevers headed over the bar from Charlie Winfield's corner.  

The Miners seek a third win on the bounce next Saturday when we travel to Dunston (kick-off 3pm).