Things got off to a bad start for the Scholars when Richard Teesdale missed a clearance from a throw-in moments after kick-off and Avenue skipper Rob O’Brien nodded home to give the visitors the lead after only 45 seconds.

This put the hosts on the back foot from the off, Dean Perrow trying to recover the deficit after six minutes when he picked up Lee Wright’s cross but he tried to turn and shoot in one move and his shot went wide.

Bradford remained on top with O’Brien and Aiden Savory leading the attack while Nicky Boshell was in fine form down the wing, Jack Farmer only just stopping him from shooting on 21 minutes just after Nathan Hotte shot wide.

Six minutes later Matt James tried to intercept a back pass with Teesdale trying to halt him but only succeeded in bringing the Avenue forward down, the Scholars skipper shown the red card. O’Brien sent Ryan Price the wrong way from the penalty spot for his and Bradford’s second goal.

Price was kept hard at work in the Chasetown goal with Hotte and O’Brien combining well, while Gary Birch and Wright came close to finding openings for the Scholars but it was a very disappointing first half for the hosts.

Bradford made the extra man count over the opening minutes of the second half but it was Chasetown who had the first chance when Danny Smith beat two men to force a throw-in which set up Farmer but his effort was cleared.

The play continued in end-to-end fashion but Avenue looked the stronger each time and Price was again kept busy, while Perrow worked well in partnership with Mark Hands but his clearest chance went wide of the post after beating keeper John Lamb.

Chasetown showed brief signs of turning things round with some decent crosses from Mark Branch and Kingsley James, but on 77 minutes Bradford increased their lead further when a shot from Michael Duckworth bounced back to Jordan Dacey who fired a stiff shot past Price.

With six minutes to go a long ball from the Scholars defence failed to reach its target of Branch and substitute Tom Greaves ran in to intercept and slotted the ball past Price for Avenue’s fourth, the visitors closing out the game thereafter to inflict Chris Brindley’s first League defeat as Chasetown boss.

Chasetown: Price, Farmer, M Branch, Slater, Reid (Hands, 59 mins), Teesdale, Danny Smith, James, Birch (Edwards, 59 mins), Perrow (Westwood, 74 mins), Wright

Other Sub: Birt (not used)