The bad luck that has been with Avenue every step of the way this season was never more prevalent than in this latest defeat at Vauxhall Motors - a result that leaves them five points adrift at the foot of the Conference North table.

Avenue supporters behind the goal twice celebrated what they thought were goals only to have their hopes dashed. The Motormen then won the match with a fluke goal in one of a handful of forays they mounted.

"I'm gutted by the result but at the same time I'm proud of the players, they gave everything and deserved nothing less than three points," said Bradford manager Carl Shutt, who had missed out on striker David Reeves the day before the game.

"We do need a top quality goal-scorer, that is no secret, someone who can turn these games into wins. But that doesn't mean the players here already aren't good enough. We want someone to work with them."

Steve Oleksewycz was a lone figure up front with the occasional support of Dan Sheriffe, the club's leading scorer but essentially a wide man who likes to play behind the strikers. Shutt even had to re-organise the defence after Michael Naylor hurt himself in a fall just three hours before kick-off.

"Olly could have had three in the first 15 minutes. There has to be a lot of credit given to the players, they worked hard.

"We had a 3-5-2 system which we haven't even worked on in training because we have been restricted in our time on the pitch.

"We have had nothing but bad luck and I feel sorry for the players. If they had got what they deserved from the first half of the season this club would be mid-table now," added Shutt.

The travelling Avenue faithful were already cheering what should have been the opening strike when Oleksewycz's lob over the home keeper was heading towards the gaping net only to see the ball hit a divot and rear up on to the post.

A second stroke of misfortune came late in the day when they thought centre back Jason Wray had forced the ball over the line from a corner. Avenue players joined in the claims but the ball was cleared and play continued.

Motormen's keeper Tim Dittmer made some fine saves. His agility thwarted Olekse-wycz as the striker attempted to squeeze a shot in by the post.

Just on the hour mark, he made a flying leap to tip a Craig Smith thunderbolt over the bar.

From the resulting corner, Avenue lost possession and found themselves behind in a game they should have already wrapped up. Vauxhall came straight at Avenue but the danger appeared to have been snuffed out.

Darren Wright was in a cul-de-sac with Avenue defenders all around him. He lashed at the ball in a half-hearted way and it hit Avenue skipper Dean Jones and looped over keeper Andrew Britton.

There was a 25-minute delay after that when referee Kevin Mattocks went down with a pulled hamstring. With no fourth official on hand and the referee clearly unable to continue, discussions followed lengthy treatment.

Mattocks finished the game running the line with one of the assistants in charge of the whistle.