WITTON ALBION 5

BRADFORD PARK AVENUE 2

Avenue stay in top spot in UniBond Division One despite suffering their heaviest defeat of the season at Witton Albion on Saturday.

In a match of thunderous strikes and three penalties, Avenue manager Trevor Storton was left numbed by the fact that his side did not run out winners of the bizarre match.

''We could have won that 9-5 as daft as it sounds,'' said the stunned boss. ''I am disappointed with the result but it is by no means a reflection of the game as a whole.

''They have scored two penalties and two belting long range shots that have gone in off the woodwork and have scored five from six attempts on goal. We could have been 4-1 up at the break if we had matched that strike rate.

''Paul Marquis must take some of the blame because he gave away two stupid penalties. He is six feet two and up against a lad of five foot nine he should never have had his arms wrapped round him.

''The lad has been a bit crafty and backed into Paul so when he has gone down it looks like Paul was all over him. He will have to make sure he has learned a bit from that and not allow it to happen again.

''We had a little spell of kamikaze defending at the start of the second half and that has cost us the match. It looks worse than it is because everything they hit went in. We could easily have won, our pace murdered their backline and their supporters said to us after the game that we were the best team they have seen this season.

''I am not unduly worried because my players won't make mistakes like that again. If they do they will be out of the side, simple as that.''

Avenue took an early lead through Phil Denney, the ex-Bury trainee who had just returned from a two month loan spell at Premier Division Bamber Bridge and who came straight back into the team because of Jason Maxwell's suspension.

Denney slotted home a low shot after racing into the area, but Witton equalised when Eddie Bishop converted Charlie Boyd's 28th minute cross with a near post header.

Avenue led at the break, however, after a cross from Denney was handled in the area and Mark Hancock blasted home the spot kick.

Avenue keeper Paul Brown was making his league debut because of Gavin Kelly's three match ban and it was certainly a baptism of fire for the youngster.

Just before the break he was shown a yellow card for holding onto the ball just outside the area and was then beaten four times in rapid succession at the start of the second period.

Substitute Steve Haw brought Albion level for a second time when his shot from outside of the area went in via a post, and Bishop grabbed his second, also with an assist from the woodwork.

Marquis then made his two errors which resulted in spot kicks for clumsy looking challenges. David Anane netted the first and Haw sent the shellshocked Brown the wrong way with the second.

''You couldn't really blame the young lad for any of them,'' admitted Storton. ''Big Gavin's positioning might have been better on the first goal, but what Paul had to do he did very well and you just have to feel sorry for him.''