Vanarama Conference North: Tamworth 2 Bradford Park Avenue 0

THE CURSE of the manager of the month struck as Avenue's unbeaten run come to a grinding halt at high-flying Tamworth.

John Deacey’s side had hauled themselves out of the relegation zone in Vanarama Conference North with a run of three wins and a draw towards the end of February, and the boss was presented with the award on the pitch before kick-off.

They remain in 19th place and four points above the trapdoor after slipping to defeat at The Lamb.

Deacey was forced into a change as player-coach Jamie Price was serving a one-match ban, Sam Patterson coming in for him, and there was also a start for Joe Colbeck.

Tamworth were fourth, although they moved up to third with the win, but Avenue matched them in a goalless first half, the visitors beginning well and creating chances in a lively 45 minutes.

The Lambs had the game’s first chance but John Danby thwarted Leon Mettam, and soon after Avenue almost took the lead. They forced a tenth-minute corner and Alex Pursehouse’s inswinging delivery nearly went straight into the top corner

A Luke Dean shot was well parried, at the expense of a corner, by the home keeper but Tamworth responded by earning their first corner, and Danby had to tip a header from that over his bar, which led to a second flag-kick, followed by a third.

It was that kind of end-to-end game but the quality in the final third was lacking, which meant only half-chances were being created.

The Lambs’ young Bradford-born forward Kayden Jackson had the home side’s clearest opening but scuffed his effort to Danby, while Avenue’s Chib Chilaka and Craig King both gave the Lambs keeper catching practice.

The game turned in the opening ten minutes of the second half when Tamworth rattled in a rapid double to take a firm grip.

But the second period had barely started when both physios were on the pitch at the same time. Dean had injured himself while fouling an opponent and was shown a yellow card after receiving treatment.

Then came the first of the two goals inside a four-minute spell when Avenue skipper Simon Ainge slipped as a through ball was deflected over the back four. Reece Styche pounced and coolly finished into the right-hand side of Danby’s goal.

Moments later, a goalbound shot from Nathan Hotte was blocked and Patterson just failed to gather the ball when it was recycled but that was the point when the game got away.

Tamworth began a slick move and Mettam finished it off perfectly after good work from man of the match Kevin Thornton.