Bradford Park Avenue 0 Stalybridge Celtic 1

BRADFORD Park Avenue returned to the foot of the National League North table after a 1-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Stalybridge.

Avenue had showed quality and promise the previous week when winning 3-2 at Altrincham but both these teams put on a poor display at Horsfall.

Home boss Mark Bower summed up the mood, saying: "It's left everyone a bit flat, to be honest. I think that the two games on Saturday and then Tuesday had taken too much out of the players.

"We looked a bit leggy right from the off and that affected us. It's not just about stamina – tired legs cannot produce the same quality.

"We missed Adam Nowakowski, Luke Dean and Danny Boshell and they are all big players for us to have out. They can all play in the same area, so to have them missing from midfield was always going to weaken us.

"It was very scrappy and we just weren't good enough on the day. The effort was certainly there but when it's not your day, you have to hold out for the point because I thought we were never going to trouble them enough to win the game."

There were half-chances early on and Aidan Chippendale hit the post for the visitors with a snap-shot from outside the area.

Avenue's best effort in the first half saw Nicky Boshell fire into the sidenetting after a crisp passing move.

There was controversy shortly before the break when Celtic striker Andy Owens went down in the area under a strong challenge from Avenue defender James Knowles. The referee was not interested and Owens was awarded a yellow card for his complaints.

Avenue started the second half strongly and almost broke the deadlock. Emile Sinclair broke free and drilled an angled shot on target that keeper Grant Shelton did well to parry for a corner.

Stalybridge made a double substitution in the 52nd minute and gained instant reward as Scott Spencer's shot was blocked on the line by Shane Killock, only for Gary Gee to lash in the rebound for what proved the decisive goal.

Both Sinclair and Jack Ryan had penalty appeals waved away as Avenue pushed for an equaliser.

Bower said: "I think the ref had to be consistent after the decision that he made in the first half and I won't criticise him because it was us that were not good enough."

Looking ahead to Avenue's next game at FC United next weekend, Bower added: "We'll have Luke Dean back from suspension and, hopefully, Adam Nowakowski and Danny Boshell from injury.

"We had a forward player lined up to come in the day before the game but that deal fell through at the last minute. There is still a chance that we can get the new signing in and, if we get him, he will make a massive difference to us."