BRADFORD (Park Avenue) are still seeking their first point of 2019 after suffering a third consecutive National North defeat.

The home side were firm favourites as they were second while FC United of Manchester were third from bottom and on a run of four defeats on the spin.

However, the table counted for little as the visitors left West Yorkshire with a 3-2 victory.

When Avenue broke the deadlock it looked as though they were back on track and heading for a win.

But the visitors equalised on the stroke of half-time and a rapid fire double midway through the second half silenced the home fans.

Avenue reduced the deficit and piled on the pressure but FC United rode their luck and banked three hard earned points.

Park Avenue manager Mark Bower was disappointed with the result but not by the efforts of his squad.

He said: “With that strong wind it was always going to be a game of two halves and that’s what it proved to be.

“We had the wind at our backs in the first half and we had a lot of the play in and around their area. It took us a while to break them down but once we did we looked in control. The goal they got just before half-time was a game changer.

“They came back out for the second half all square with the wind in their favour and used the conditions well.

"They had a bit of luck to get in front – there were a couple of ricochets in midfield that went to their players – but for the lad to finish like that from 25 yards, you can’t legislate for things like that.

“You can look at the quality of all three of their goals and just hold your hands up and say 'well done'.

"It just highlights the fact that we didn’t do enough of that in the first half. For all our possession in the final third I don’t think we tested their keeper enough.

"Overall I still think we created more than they did and we ended the game strongly and positively. It would have been easy for the players to switch off at 3-1 down playing into a gale force wind but they kept going.”

It was Oli Johnson who broke the deadlock in the 39th minute. A good ball into the area found him with his back to goal but the striker spun and sent in a low shot. It lacked pace but was accurate and crept over the line.

It should have been two two minutes later as FC United centre back Will Sass-Davies misjudged his header in the strong wind with the ball dropping to Ben McKenna, but the forward delayed his shot and keeper Lloyd Allinson managed to block with his foot.

Into first half stoppage-time former Avenue striker Chris Sharp was left unmarked and, after cutting inside, he beat Steve Drench with a superb shot from the edge of the area to net FC’s leveller.

The game was turned by the two goals in as many minutes from the visitors. Jack Banister curled a stunning effort into the top corner in the 64th minute and just over 60 seconds later Kurt Willoughby broke through the inside right channel and lashed a shot across Drench and into the far bottom corner.

Avenue substitute Alex Hurst was fouled just outside the area in the 77th minute and Lewis Knight halved the arrears with a spectacular free kick.

Into stoppage time, a Nicky Wroe shot was deflected onto the bar as Avenue searched for an equaliser that never arrived.