Moors continued their impressive unbeaten start to the season as Jude Oyibo’s strike just before half time secured all three points at Bradford (Park Avenue) on Bank Holiday Monday.
It was the second away trip in succession that Oyibo had scored the only goal as Moors ground out another three points to move fifth in the National League North table.
The hosts could have gone in front inside three minutes when some miscommunication at the back allowed Sam Fielding to get through down the left-hand side, but debutant Michael Ledger got back on the line to clear the danger.
Glen Taylor could have struck Moors in front on six minutes when he produced a swift turn on the edge of the area to create space for a curling shot which dropped just too high.
The game began to get scrappy through the middle of the first half, with Reece Staunton trying a long-range effort for Park Avenue which went too high, and Andre Brooks saw his shot deflected over.
Moors were close to breaking the deadlock on 28 minutes when Ledger slipped Danny Greenfield in on the right of the box and his drilled shot was pushed on to the near post by keeper George Sykes-Kenworthy.
However, there was a breakthrough on 41 minutes as Greenfield turned provider, running on to a ball from Jordan Thewlis to drive a low ball across the edge of the six-yard box where Jude Oyibo arrived to cleverly flick home the opening goal.
Thewlis could have added a second minutes later when Oyibo saw a shot blocked but when it fell loose to Thewlis the Moors striker snatched at his shot and sent it across goal and wide.
Moors began the second half in dominant fashion as they controlled possession but the hosts czme back into it as time wore on, even having the ball in the net only for an offside flag to rule out Will Longbottom’s effort.
Duxbury was forced off through injury to allow Jo Cummings to come on for his debut and he slotted in seamlessly at the back as Cousin-Dawson switched over to left-back.
Oyibo came agonisingly close to doubling his tally when a ball in from the right fell at his feet but the forward somehow managed to scoop a shot up and off the top of the cross bar on its way over.
Taylor had another sight of goal midway through the second half when he found space to meet Joe Wheatley’s left-wing corner, but his glancing header flashed across the box and wide.
Park Avenue responded by coming close themselves when a deep cross fell at the feet of Brooks but Max Metcalfe got a toe to his low strike to divert it round the post.
More good football from Moors created an opportunity for Taylor to let fly again with a powerful effort which took a deflection as it fizzed over the bar.
In injury time, Park Avenue’s Jacob Blyth was denied by a wonderful block from Joe Tait when the home striker looked set to equalise – the skipper’s heroic defending was celebrated like a goal by he and his teammates.
Full Time: Bradford (Park Avenue) 0 Moors 1
Bradford (Park Avenue): Sykes-Kenworthy, Odunston, Staunton, Lund, Havern, Maroodza (Church 61), Hopper, Fielding, Blyth, Brooks (Smith 88), Longbottom (Johnson 75).
Subs not used: Hall, Nowakowski.
Booked: Maroodza (52), Staunton (90)
Moors: Metcalfe, Cousin-Dawson, Tait, Ledger, Duxbury (Cummings 60), Greenfield, Wheatley, Thewlis (Preston 90), Ramshaw, Oyibo (Watt 82), Taylor.
Subs: Lufudu, Payne.
Booked: Duxbury (50), Wheatley (77)
Referee: Michael Crusham
Attendance: 639