Another late equaliser from Glen Taylor salvaged a point for Moors following a dramatic conclusion against Bradford (Park Avenue).

Lewis Knight’s double either side of a Ryan Hall equaliser looked to have ended Spennymoor’s unbeaten home record, however, following Ryan Toulson’s red card, Taylor headed in six minutes from full time.

The game began in hectic fashion, with the referee showing a yellow card to Avenue midfielder Toulson after a minute of action.

Scott McLean, continuing is role as a winger following a spell at full back earlier in the season, was denied by a combination of goalkeeper and defender soon after, before Mark Ross saw a shot blocked following a dangerous corner.

Moors failed to heed the early warning signs following a flurry of Bradford corner, with the away side taking the lead on eight minutes through Lewis Knight.

Luca Havern found space and managed to prod a ball through to the forward. Knight, who scored Avenue’s goal in the FA Cup against Moors in October, rounded Dale Eve and rolled into an empty net.

The visitors’ strong start continued, and they had a golden chance to double their advantage ten minutes later.

Knight cleverly backheeled to the overlapping Harry Boyes, and after his fizzed cross fell to Isaac Marriott ten yards out, he had the goal to aim at, however, Eve was up to the task and made a vital stop.

Moors bounced back in an all action opening period. Rob Ramshaw played a delightful one-two with Glen Taylor but dragged his shot wide beyond Dan Atkinson’s post.

The pattern of the game was evidently set, with Moors retaining a healthy portion of possession, while Bradford were more than happy to soak up the pressure and look for an opening on the counterattack.

An equaliser almost arrived five minutes before the interval when Nathan Buddle’s looped header struck the bar from a corner, however, Avenue went into half time with the advantage.

That advantage was almost doubled four minutes into the second half when Luca Havern expertly took down a high free kick before swivelling and curling a shot inches wide.

Ainsley acted ten minutes after the restart and sent on Frank Mulhern for Adriano Moke, signalling a switch to 4-4-2, providing a greater attacking emphasis.

Knight almost scored a goal of the season contender after a free-kick was recycled, with his 30-yard effort skimming the crossbar.

An amazing spell of football arrived twelve minutes of time, commencing with a Spennymoor equaliser which began with an Avenue corner kick.

Moors broke quickly, with Forbes’ cross eventually falling to substitute Ryan Hall who acrobatically volleyed over Atkinson, however, the resulting celebrations proved to be short lived.

Once Knight nicked the ball from Buddle on the far side, he had one aim in mind, cutting inside and skirting past James Curtis before bending a shot past the outstretched arm of Eve.

It was a blow for Moors who looked to have gained the momentum leading into the final stages of the contest, but they were given a lifeline when Toulson was shown a red card for kicking out at Taylor.

Now boasting an extra man, Moors immediately pinned Avenue in their own half and found an equaliser with six minutes of normal time remaining.

Scott McLean, who shifted into left back following Adam Blakeman’s withdrawal, whipped in a devastating cross which Taylor flicked beyond Atkinson.