Bradford Park Avenue 1, Guiseley 3

Two fiercely struck free-kicks from Guiseley skipper Andy Holdsworth ensured Bradford Park Avenue did not get revenge over their nearest neighbours in the second of their Blue Square Bet North Division derbies.

Avenue had been the better side despite losing 1-0 at Nethermoor on Boxing Day but the Lions turned the tables on them by being the dominant side at Horsfall Stadium.

With the visitors edging a game that was poised at 1-1 going into the last quarter, Holdsworth’s strikes ensured it was the Lions who started 2013 with another maximum.

Bradford boss John Deacey was aggrieved by a refereeing decision midway through the first half, and by his keeper at the two set-pieces.

He said: “The game swung on three key points - how their lad has stayed on the pitch I do not know. You usually get sent off for throwing a punch but he threw two and didn’t.

“I really thought our keeper could have done better with both free-kicks. Once again we have played a full part in the game and got nothing - that’s football.”

The incident that had Deacey fuming was in the 26th minute and it seemed to come out of nothing.

A Guiseley attack petered out in the Avenue area and the referee had given a goal kick before the Lions’ Wayne Brooksby reacted.

A free-for-all ensued as other players became involved but the referee, his assistants and several players acting as peacemakers soon had the situation under control.

The result was a yellow card for Brooksby and Avenue’s on-loan defender Jordan Snodin.

Guiseley opened the scoring in the 35th minute when a clearance from Rhys Meynell found Josh Wilson just onside, and he controlled the ball before curling a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Just before the break, visiting keeper Steve Drench raced wide out of his area to clear but his hack went straight to Paul Walker.

He could not get a shot at the unguarded net but he found Rob O’Brien, whose shot was deflected for a corner.

Jamie Price whipped in the flag-kick and three efforts were blocked before the ball rebounded to Danny Holland, who drilled in off the inside of a post.

Holdsworth got his first chance from a disputed 74th-minute foul in the inside-left channel, and the Lions skipper was at least 30 yards from goal on an angle but his low drive found the target.

Four minutes later, from almost the same spot, he repeated the feat.

Lions boss Steve Kittrick said: “I think we deserved this one but we had to work hard. Avenue may have had five players suspended but they proved what a good squad they have by testing us yet again.”