IT TOOK a while but Bradford Park Avenue finally won a game of football this week.

After 15 league games in Vanarama National North and one FA Cup tie, they tasted victory at the 17th time of asking when they won 3-2 at Altrincham last Tuesday.

Mark Bower replaced Alex Meechan as Avenue boss and the former Bantams skipper has been in charge for just five of those games.

Even so he was still delighted and relieved when the first victory came around.

Bower said: “It was a nice night for everyone and it felt really good.

“The players were buzzing in the dressing room after the game and the fans came home from Altrincham very happy. The backroom staff and volunteers were all lifted by it.

“It has raised the belief among everyone as well, not just because we won a game but it was the manner of the win.

"I thought we were the better team and we reacted well to having our lead cut late on – that showed the character and spirit in the side.

“I said to the players after the game that when I look around that dressing room I see players that are more than capable of winning every game.

"I’m surprised that it has taken so long because on paper this is a very good squad.”

Avenue had come back from an early setback as Jim Harvey’s Altrincham had taken an eighth-minute lead.

Second-half goals from Ben McKenna, Emile Sinclair and Nicky Wroe meant that Bower’s men took a 3-1 lead but that was cut five minutes from time.

The Avenue boss added: "We felt very comfortable at 3-1 and I thought we deserved our lead at that point but then their lad sticks in a 'worldy'.

"I began to think that we could easily have been four or five up by then and that it might cost us.

“It didn’t because the players had the determination to see it out and the confidence to feel that they wouldn’t get beaten, which was fantastic to see.”