Hyde United 3, Bradford Park Avenue 1 - Avenue were left to rue several missed opportunities as they slipped to their first defeat of the season in only the second game of the new UniBond Premier Division campaign.

Following Saturday's edgy 2-0 win over Gateshead they looked on course to record another maximum as they dominated first-half proceedings but Hyde United turned the game after the break.

Trevor Storton's men were looking comfortable at 1-0 up after taking an early lead. In fact they should have trebled their advantage in that first period but the home side mounted a spirited fightback after the interval.

"It was very disappointing to lose this one because I thought we were the better side," said Storton.

"In the first half we didn't give them a kick but we did lose our way in midfield in the second half.

"The referee has been a bit naughty because Andy Quinn was pushed over in our area but he has let them retake a corner which they scored from. We nearly got back in it at 2-1 down but Rory Prendergast and Graham Mitchell have missed good chances. That was a shame, we deserved something from it."

Andy Hayward, who netted his 57th goal in his 100th appearance for the club on Saturday, gave Avenue a dream start by giving them a ninth- minute lead.

New signing Prendergast hit an accurate long diagonal cross that Hayward controlled with his first touch. Despite the close attention of a defender the striker made his way into the area before despatching a 15 yard shot that crashed over the line off the underside of the bar.

Prendergast had a later shot headed clear by Paul Ashwell and Hyde keeper Peter Crookes finger-tipped a Hayward effort round his post. Crookes also held a well-directed free kick from Prendergast just after the half hour.

Hyde re-shaped during the half-time interval and the substitutes were instrumental in their comeback.

On the hour a corner from Ged Smith was met by a glancing header from Danny Webster, who had come on for Dave Swanick. Just seven minutes later Steve Foster gave Avenue keeper Joel Armstrong no chance with an angled drive.

Former Bantam Graham Mitchell came close to opening his account for Avenue and Prendergast shot over from six yards as Avenue rallied late on. But in injury time Hyde substitute Lee Madin hooked the ball into the visitor's six-yard box to give Smith a simple tap-in.