Bradford (Park Avenue) kicked off their new Pitching In Northern Premier League campaign by welcoming Macclesfield FC to the Horsfall Stadium.

But they failed to make the ideal start following relegation from National League North, and succumbed to a 2-0 defeat.

Mark Bower’s Avenue side started on the front foot, with Chinedu Osadebe’s effort forcing an early corner.

But the visitors adapted well into the game and took the lead in the 13th minute.

Laurent Mendy’s driving run forward created space for Alex Curran to receive the ball and calmly slot into the bottom left corner.

Park Avenue almost instantly replied to that set back.

Brad Dockerty was sent through one-on-one and set up Lucas Odunston, who ultimately rattled the post with his strike.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure in an attempt to draw the scores level, with Will Longbottom denied by a crucial Max Johnstone save, who pushed the effort past the post for a corner.

After a tightly contested start to the second half, the Silkmen doubled their advantage.

Curran added an assist to his earlier goal as his perfectly weighted cross saw Luke Duffy arrow a header into the top left corner, leaving George Sykes-Kenworthy helpless in the Avenue goal.

Despite Avenue’s best efforts to find a foothold in the game, the visitors produced an impressive defensive display to ensure all three points.

Bower gave his thoughts about the 2023/24 season opener, saying: “I thought it would be as tough as it was, they look a really strong outfit and have some real strength in depth.

“I thought the game started reasonably comfortably and they didn’t really hurt us in the way that they played, then we conceded a poor goal from their first effort.”

He added: “We had loads of opportunities in the final third and in games like that, where you play the best teams, you have to take your chances and make them count.”

The Bradford (Park Avenue) gaffer highlighted how some of his players made poor decisions throughout the clash too.

He said: “We didn’t keep the ball as well as we’re capable of and we were sloppy in certain areas.”

Avenue will have the chance to bounce back from that opening day defeat when they return to league action in two days' time, where they travel to face Atherton Collieries at the Skunda Stadium.