Shutt: We'll learn from our mistakes

Bradford Park Avenue 1

Conference North outfit Avenue were narrow winners in their pre-season friendly against near neighbours Liversedge at Clayborn last night with an early second-half goal separating the two sides.

The clubs occupy opposite ends of the 606 motorway link and their respective managers were poles apart on their take of the game.

"I'm pleased with the workout and I got all of my players some time on the pitch but there are as many negatives as positives that have come to the fore," said Avenue boss Carl Shutt.

the game that I would learn a lot from it, about the commitment and attitude of my players, and that was certainly the case. It is better that I have found out a few weaknesses at this stage because we have time to work on them before the season starts.

"We have to iron out some problems but that is what these friendlies are all about. We can make as many changes as we want and switch systems, you can't do that when points are at stake."

Sedge manager Eugene Lacy was more forthright: "We played them off the park totally," was his analysis.

"I was pleased with the performance on the pitch but devastated by the result. We should have won the game, it's as simple as that. They scrambled the only goal and might have edged possession but we tested their keepers more than they did ours."

Avenue's Steve Oleksewycz created a handful of openings as the home defence struggled to deal with him. It took Sedge 23 minutes to get their first shot in.

Paddy Gaughan's shot flew just wide but Avenue were soon thanking their keeper Andrew Britton. He tidied up after a mix-up, made an excellent one-handed save to deny Asif Hussain and palmed two more efforts round his post.

Shutt made six substitutions at the break and within three minutes two of them combined to break the deadlock. Paul Helliwell's driven low cross was clipped past home keeper Rob Westhall by Alan Preece.

Avenue's second-half custodian Jon Worsnop made some good saves. The only time he was beaten James Russell was on the line to hack the ball clear.