MARK Bower has been in the game as a player, coach and manager since leaving school but Avenue’s midweek defeat was like no other game in the former Bradford City skipper’s long career.

His side played at newly-promoted Spennymoor Town and lost 3-0 after their hosts plundered three goals in a four-minute spell late in the first half.

Bower’s men had totally dominated the opening first 35 minutes but by the 39th they were a beaten side.

He said: “I’ve never been involved in a game like it. To go from a position of such strength to lose a game by that score. It’s unheard of – it had to be seen to be believed.

“The only thing we can say is that there are lots of positives we can take from that game into today and the next few games.

"Right up until they scored we had been in the driving seat really. We created a lot of chances and the lads went on right to the end.

“So there are things there that were good about the performance but we have to be good in both boxes. We’ve definitely got to sort things out at the back though – you can play like Barcelona or Brazil but you won’t win a game if you defend like that.”

After winning their first game of the new season, Avenue have now lost their next three, although there have been mitigating circumstances and the fixture list has not been kind.

Today’s visit of FC United of Manchester will be Park Avenue’s fifth game in 15 days and that tough start, along with the coming Bank Holiday next weekend, has taken it’s toll on the squad.

Bower said: “It’s been a hectic start and in the four games so far we’ve played three sides that will definitely be challenging at the end of the season.

“And when your luck’s out it's out, so the results have not been good and we’ve picked up a few injuries. When nothing’s going for you, you get these little runs and it’s frustrating.

“Adam (Nowakowski) picked up a head injury against York City. It was bad enough to force him off and we’d already used our three subs. You can’t take chances with head injuries and they are often worse than it seems at first.

“Both of the Boshells (Danny and Nicky) were forced off with injuries at Spennymoor and Shane (Killock) is still out so we’ve got to look after the squad. Next weekend we’ve got two tough games in three days over the Bank Holiday so we have to manage things well.

“It’s the same for every other club in the division, with so many games in such a short space of time. But we’ve got Jav (Vidal) back from his three-game ban on Bank Holiday Monday and we’ve got a free midweek after that so we’ll be getting back to normal soon.”