Avenue travelled to nineteenth-placed Southport with high hopes of a good result but, with half a dozen players in the home side recently back from injury, it was a much tougher task than was expected.

With a strong wind blowing down the pitch, Avenue had it in their faces in a first half which Southport dominated after going ahead in the fifth minute. A perfect strike into the top corner from 22 yards gave George Sykes-Kenworthy at full stretch no chance at all in goal.

Finding it hard to relieve the pressure and with numerous chances falling to the home side, the score was nevertheless kept at 1 – 0 until two further goals just before half-time appeared to end the game as a contest, the second of these being a penalty.

However, a well-directed header by Harrison Hopper then gave Brad Dockerty the opportunity to take the ball past the last defender and calmly slot home in time added on to make the score 3 – 1 and give Avenue a lifeline.

Southport continued to create chances in the second half, though Avenue came more into the picture without really being able to trouble the keeper. They kept up their efforts to the end but were found stretched when a close-range header in added time completed the scoring.

While unable to have any complaints at the final outcome, one was left to wonder how the game might have gone had Southport not won the toss and Avenue had been able to have the wind at their backs in the first half.

Manager Mark Bower had this to say after the game: ‘Today we never put enough passes together to relieve pressure on ourselves. We’ve lost the chance to get anything from the game in that five minutes before half-time. That was self-inflicted.’ And, regarding the game as a whole: ‘We just didn’t play with enough quality.’

His counterpart at Southport, Liam Watson, looked at the more positive side of Avenue’s performance: ‘To be honest, you’ve got to give Bradford credit because they actually dug in and stayed in the game. You can see that they’re playing for the manager and they’re working their socks off and they could have actually crumbled, but they didn’t, so fair play to them.

‘In the second half you’re thinking you don’t want these to get a second one and (then) you’re wobbling. They were game, they worked. I don’t think they’ll finish bottom of the League, I definitely don’t. They dug in, they had a go. It was a good game, probably a really good game for the neutral.’

Team: Sykes-Kenworthy; Odunston, Staunton; Spencer, Havern, Lund (Smith 71); Longbottom (Blyth 56), Richman (Fielding 70), Dockerty, Church, Hopper. Unused subs: Hall, Johnson.

Avenue yellow cards: Spencer (38), Odunston (42).

Att. 802

Avenue’s loss by a two-goal margin at fourth-placed Fylde on Saturday unfortunately does nothing to reflect the hard work and endeavour put into the game by players anxious to turn their fortunes around and claim an overdue first win of the season.

Keeping the home side at a safe distance for most of the first half, Avenue managed to have a few moments of their own. After a free-flowing move early on, Will Longbottom played in Jamie Spencer who hit a strong, rising shot from 16 yards only fractionally outside the angle of post and crossbar. There was also a penetrating run by Lucas Odunston taking him into a scoring position directly in front of goal before being brought down in a heap on the edge of the box.

Fylde then made their first clear opportunity count after 25 minutes with a forceful 15-yard shot looping into the top corner of the net, but Avenue continued to show their resolve. Simon Richman had a tricky angled shot turned away for a corner before an equaliser came just two minutes before the break to give a whole new complexion to the game. Will Longbottom put a precision corner kick into the goalmouth which Oli Johnson flicked on and captain Luca Havern was there to stab in at the far post.

Facing a tough task still against a full-time team on a six-match unbeaten run, Avenue were looking comfortable enough as the second half progressed. However, Fylde then re-took the lead from a debatable corner in the 63rd minute when a firm header from ten yards out was planted into the bottom corner of the net and Avenue were suddenly up against it.

Despite their efforts, opportunities to get back in the game did not really come their way and, with just two minutes left on the clock and Avenue desperately looking for an opening that might give them some reward, Fylde took advantage on the counter by scoring a third goal to seal their victory.

It’s perhaps worth noting that the fixture planners have unwittingly not helped Avenue in these opening nine matches of the season. Giving them seven fixtures against teams currently in the top eight, this has sadly been reflected in the League table despite a number of close games.

While understandably disappointed with the defeat, manager Mark Bower said the following the game: ‘After last week, we asked for a reaction from the players’, and on this performance he was justifiably able to add: ‘Today I thought we looked confident. We looked good on the ball’.

Team: Sykes-Kenworthy; Odunston, Staunton; Spencer (Fielding 63), Havern, Lund; Hopper, Richman, Dockerty (Church 77), Johnson (Blyth 70), Longbottom. Unused subs: Smith, Nowakowski.

Avenue yellow card: Hopper (88).

Avenue travelled to Ashington in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup and, despite their recent excellent League record in this part of the country, came away at the wrong end of a 2 – 1 score line.

No team ever relishes a Cup-tie in the north-east and Avenue came a cropper against Northern League opposition, a fate becoming many teams over the years.

The home side took an early fifth-minute lead with the unlucky Reece Staunton being credited with an own goal, before they went further in front following a corner after 74 minutes giving Avenue what felt like a mountain to climb.

Will Longbottom then entered the fray as a substitute and managed to pull a goal back seven minutes later. This raised hopes of a comeback and, when Harrison Hopper made a short pass inside, the unmarked Eddie Church stretched to put the ball into an open goal from close range. The linesman made an immediate offside call, yet both Avenue players involved in the move appeared to be onside and no one else was interfering with play.

Avenue were not at their best in this match, but could reasonably have felt they should have been heading home looking forward to a replay.

Manager Mark Bower sent on academy prospect George Eze for his senior debut in the final few minutes, a moment George will remember for a long time and a move which will have been noted by all the other players at the academy, giving them real hope that they may be able to follow in his footsteps.

Disappointing as it may be, Avenue were not alone as Vanarama North sides Brackley, Leamington, Spennymoor and Telford all suffered defeat to lower-ranked opposition.

And, they mustn’t let this setback affect their optimism for Fylde on Saturday. Influential captain Luca Havern is hoping to be back after injury and fortune favours the brave, as the saying goes.

Mark Bower was honest about Avenue’s form after the game in saying: ‘The lads are better than what they’re producing at the minute. Clearly, we need to change something because we’re not getting the results we should be.’

Ashington have now got through four rounds of the FA Cup, which includes beating Northern Premier League high-flyers Ashton United less than two weeks earlier, and were naturally cock-a-hoop after the game. Manager Ian Skinner said: ‘I’m hoping for another home tie in the next round because nobody will want to come here – we’ll be the team that others will be saying, ‘I don’t fancy going up there!’

Team: Sykes-Kenworthy; Odunston (Eze 87), Staunton; Spencer (Longbottom (75), Lund, Fielding; Hopper, Richman, Blyth, Dockerty, Smith (Church 65). Unused subs: Hall, Johnson.

Avenue yellow card: Odunston (60).

Att. 711

Severely limited in their team selection, with four squad members unavailable, Avenue were still able to give in-form Leamington a run for their money before succumbing to a narrow defeat.

Despite an overall below-par performance in the opening half hour, Avenue came close to scoring twice before half-time. With the game still goalless, Eddie Church put in a near-post cross from the right and, in the blink of an eye, Will Longbottom’s poke towards goal from close in beat the goalkeeper only to be cleared away by a covering defender.

George-Sykes Kenworthy made one excellent low save from a close-range header, but had little chance to stop a fierce shot giving the lively home side the lead after twenty minutes.

Then, as the interval approached, Harrison Hopper’s chip over the keeper from Sam Fielding’s well-weighted ball over the defence saw a defender again in position to clear off the line.

Avenue began to get more of a foothold in the game in the second half when Leamington’s attacking threat diminished. Luca Havern had a goal disallowed for an alleged foul in the build-up and Jacob Blyth volleyed narrowly wide from 25 yards, but Avenue had to wait until the closing minutes to apply any pressure.

Then, throwing men forward, Jacob Blyth tested the keeper with a header and a shot by Sam Fielding from the edge of the box was fortuitously deflected wide of the post with the Avenue players appealing in vain that it had struck the defender’s arm.

Once Avenue start scoring on a regular basis, and this may only be a game away, they could well become a tricky opponent but, in the meantime, a lack of goals is naturally causing frustration for players and fans alike.

Manager Mark Bower had this to say about the game: ‘We need something to go for us. We don’t seem to get any kind of thing go our way’ – in particular referring to Luca Havern’s disallowed goal after Eddie Church had appeared to be clattered into in the box.

And, despite feeling Leamington should have had a further goal for their early dominance, their manager Paul Holleran followed a familiar theme by saying his side had to dig deep and that they just about edged it at the end.

Team: Sykes-Kenworthy; Odunston, Staunton; Lund, Havern, Fielding; Brooks (Johnson 76), Longbottom (Smith 65), Blyth, Church, Hopper. Unused subs: Hall, Eze.

Avenue Bookings: Havern, Staunton.

Att. 412

With Avenue depleted by the loss of Simon Richman and Jamie Spencer to injury and suspension respectively, the squad showed good strength in depth but just couldn’t find the finishing touch and fell to a 1 – 0 defeat against visitors Spennymoor.

An excellent opportunity to take the lead had come after only three minutes when hesitancy between the keeper and a defender on the edge of the penalty area enabled Sam Fielding to nip in and steal the ball but, in being forced wide, Avenue were unable to capitalise.

After a promising first quarter for the home side in which a tricky run from inside his own half by Shane Maroodza ended with Will Longbottom firing just over from 18 yards, Spennymoor then sounded a warning with George Sykes-Kenworthy appearing to get a touch on a fierce rising angled shot which hit the near post. The visitors then took the lead after forty minutes with a well-worked goal which seemed to take the wind out of Avenue’s sails for a while.

As Avenue tried to bounce back after half-time, Andre Brooks had a goal disallowed for offside and shortly afterwards Will Longbottom was put through on goal, but a defender did just enough to prevent him getting in a clean shot and the keeper made a comfortable save.

The visitors, however, were continuing to look dangerous and had one close-range shot which clipped the home crossbar.

In making attacking substitutions during the last half hour to try to get something out of the game, Eddie Church found space at the far post from a free kick but had his angled shot kept out by the keeper’s foot. Avenue then had to wait until the final minutes for another good chance to get an equaliser when, from ten yards out, Jacob Blyth blasted a loose ball towards goal following a corner only for a defender to somehow stick out a leg and divert the ball round the post.

The Spennymoor players’ reaction to this told that they knew without that important intervention they would have been heading back north with only one point.

When the referee then failed to spot a blatant push in the penalty area, it went to prove that it was just not Avenue’s day.

It may be of little consolation at the present time, but Avenue’s first three opponents of the season at Horsfall all currently sit in the top six. And, while the table does not lie over the course of a season, it could easily be argued from the overall form of the side so far, that Avenue deserve a higher placing in the League than the one they currently occupy.

Manager Mark Bower was to say afterwards: ‘Nothing’s going our way at the minute. It’s been a difficult start for us. We’re just coming out the wrong side of tight games.’

From a Spennymoor perspective, their stand-in skipper Joe Tait was relieved to get the win, stating: ‘It was a magnificent three points because they’re no mugs, they’ll take points off teams, particularly on this pitch. It was a tough game.’

Team: Sykes-Kenworthy; Odunston, Staunton; Lund, Havern, Maroodza (Church 61); Hopper, Fielding, Blyth, Brooks (Smith 85), Longbottom (Johnson 70). Unused subs: Hall, Nowakowski.

Avenue yellow cards: Maroodza (52), Staunton (90).

Att. 639

You can watch the highlights from Mondays game below.

Chorley  0 – 0  Bradford (Park Avenue)

A third-successive point on the road was achieved at Chorley, despite playing the entire second half with only ten men after Shane Maroodza was shown a red card in first-half time added on. Shane was the unlucky one to have to go, following an altercation, while his opponent only received a yellow card.

Losing a player on the stroke of half time at least gave Avenue a chance to reorganise back in the changing room and the players came out for the second half to continue to give a solid display.

The home side, who had won 4 – 1 at Boston the week before, were allowed few chances to score throughout a game in which Avenue also had trouble finding a clear opening.

Unfortunately, the match itself will probably be remembered most for further incidents later in the game. Harrison Hopper received a booking, then one of Chorley’s substitutes who had been booked a little earlier was sent off as the final whistle approached for some off-the-ball pushing and shoving with Jacob Blyth. Blyth, who played for Chorley last season, was shown a yellow card for his part in the affair.

Manager Mark Bower said afterwards: ‘I thought the lads were magnificent in terms of their effort, work rate and desire to keep a clean sheet. They’ve given absolutely everything for us.’ And on our attacking play: ‘We certainly got in some very good areas and just lacked that final pass.’

Team: Sykes-Kenworthy; Odunston, Staunton; Lund, Havern, Maroodza; Fielding, Richman (Hopper 45+3), Blyth, Brooks (Smith 82), Church (Longbottom 76). Unused subs: Hall, Nowakowski.

Att. 913

With this game past the ninety-minute mark and it looking inevitable that Avenue would have to settle for a draw against one of the teams expected to challenge for promotion, the home side were rocked by a Kidderminster winner in the third minute of time added on.

This cruel blow came after Avenue had held the Kidderminster attack well while managing to create only a limited number of chances at the other end.

The best of these was probably when Andre Brooks let fly with a strong, low shot from 25 yards just after half-time, which the visiting keeper dropped on to save.

Much of the game, however, had seen few chances created by either side in windy conditions, as both teams generally cancelled each other out.

In the end, a looping header gave George Sykes-Kenworthy little or no chance in goal and Avenue virtually no time to respond. To make it even more frustrating, this was the visitors only serious attempt on target throughout the whole match.

There can be no surprise if Avenue have already marked this one down as a result to be reversed when the two sides meet again at Aggborough Stadium later in the season.

Team: Sykes-Kenworthy; Odunston, Staunton; Lund, Havern, Maroodza; Spencer, Richman, Blyth (Nowakowski 83), Brooks (Church 62), Hopper (Longbottom HT). Unused subs: Smith, Fielding.

Attendance: 542