Avenue's season goes from bad to worse.

A depressing defeat at Ashton United last night - the third on the trot for the new management duo of Phil Sharpe and Clive Freeman - has made the club's battle against relegation from the Northern Premier League a desperate one.

The side take on lowly Runcorn at Horsfall Stadium on Saturday, followed by another home game against fellow strugglers Gateshead next Wednesday. Lose them and the club is as good as down.

Club spokesman Tim Clapham said: "This was a disappointing defeat. The side seems to be devoid of ideas going forward.

"But Phil Sharpe says he has three or four players lined up to sign in time for the Runcorn game. Everything is really on that match."

Avenue, who conceded three goals for the third successive game last night, were the best side for 20 minutes or so.

Disaster struck after 30 minutes when Wayne Benn scored an own goal for the second game in succession. A shot by Ciaran Kilheeney was hit against Benn by his own player Danny McLaughlin and the ball rebounded past Nick Buxton.

Avenue had dominated up to then, forcing several corners. Dean Jones went close, heading over the bar, and just on the stroke of half-time Tom Greaves had a free header from a Dean Calcutt cross but his effort also went over.

Kilheeny made it two for Ashton after 60 minutes when he curled a shot beyond Buxton and a mistake by youngster Paddy Mumbly let in Andreas Bjorkfor the killer third. Craig Smith put in a solid performance for Avenue as a makeshift right back and Benn played well alongside Jones in the back four but there were few plus points.

Changes need to be made before Saturday if Avenue are to halt a terrible slide. The side hasn't won a league game since the end of October and they have let in 74 goals in 34 matches - by far the worst record in the division.

Another worrying aspect is that Saturday's opponents Runcorn, who are five points behind Avenue, now have four games in hand over them.