AVENUE boss Mark Bower was pleased with his side's dogged performance in their win over Chester in the Vanarama National League North.

Bradford upset the odds by producing a shock 2-1 victory over their playoff chasing opponents at Horsfall thanks to an own goal and Oli Johnson's winner.

Gaining the three points halts a run of 10 matches without a win for the basement team who are now 13 points adrift.

Despite believing his men have played better in matches they have lost this season, Bower still provides credit for overcoming such a strong Chester team.

He said: "I am relieved and pleased. I have sounded like a broken record over the last couple of months where our efforts have not got the rewards.

"I don’t think we played that well today. We used the conditions well first half and dominated. We should have been further in front.

"Second half they had the wind behind them and some big guns to bring off the bench. We responded well from the goal they scored and put ourselves in front.

"They had maybe one half chance, we defended our box really well which we hadn’t been doing over the course of the season.

"They had a strong experience squad and we went toe to toe with them today. On the balance of play we deserved the win."

Bower was handed a yellow card in the dying embers after the Chester players were furious in his act of him kicking the ball away to try waste the final few minutes.

The Bradford manager says his behaviour was a bit silly and is just happy to get that winning feeling back.

He added: "I was a bit daft I shouldn’t have done it. I was frustrated that he gave them a free kick which should have gone our way 20 yards from goal with the last kick of the game.

"The ball came my way and I don’t think I have kicked a ball so far with my right foot, I held my hands up, but I might have played a little part in us getting the result (laughs).

"With us not playing, a few of the teams above us have not got results, so we thought lets try catch that next team. To get three points today is a really got start for us.

"We are not looking at anything beyond our control which means we just concentrate on our games."