After a turbulent year, the Yorkshire side were relegated from the National League North last season despite their best efforts to remain in the division.
The Avenue have struggled to bounce back this year and Saturday’s 3-0 defeat against Hyde United highlighted the struggles they are having following their relegation.
Bradford PA manager, Mark Bower said: “I think there is a lack of confidence running through the team and it made us look very average at times”
The lack of confidence was apparent in the build-up to Avenue’s game against Hyde as the home side was without a win in their last four games.
Despite the run of form, it was the home side who started the strongest and had a great chance in the 10th minute after promising youngster Myles la Bastidie had a free header but he was unable to glance his effort goalwards.
After their strong start, Bower said: “It felt comfortable in the first half, we had some decent chances but we just lacked any real conviction.”
The home side were made to pay for their lack of conviction in front of the goal when Hyde were able to implement their high-pressing style and in the 43rd took the lead. Sonny Whittingham won the ball high in the Avenue half and offloaded to Matthew Fearnley who unleashed a thunderous strike that beat the Avenue keeper.
Hyde pushed for another just before the break but were unable to find a breakthrough and Bower said: “I think you see the inexperience and the lack of confidence when that first goal went in because it could have been a couple more after that.”
It got worse for the home side shortly after play restarted when Ryan White found himself in acres of space on the edge of the box, the winger drilled a low shot into the bottom corner leaving George Sykes-Kenworthy rooted to the spot and doubling their lead.
Mark Bower’s side struggled to gain control of the game and struggled to create anything after conceding the two goals.
“I think our passing was poor, we were nowhere near good enough on the ball.” Bower said.
This was costly for the home side as Hyde got their third of the afternoon and Jack Redshaw’s fourth of the season. The goal came after the midfielder turned excellently past his defender in his own half and then skipped past two on-rushing defenders skilfully before placing his effort into the bottom corner to round off a spectacular solo goal.
Moments after getting their third Wittingham lunged into a challenge and caught his man leaving the referee no choice but to give the 19-year-old a red card to the Hyde player.
This didn’t affect the end result of the match as the away side claimed all three points despite finishing the game with a one-man disadvantage.
On the away sides performance, the Avenue manager said: “Fair play to them they moved the ball well and the best team won, Hyde deserved to win the game without a shadow of a doubt”
After another game without three points, the Avenue gaffer has demanded more from his players. “I won’t have what went on this afternoon that’s got to change and I’ll make some changes.”
The Avenue has Worksop town in their next fixture in the Nothern Premier division. Ahead of this game, Bower said: “Hopefully this game can be an eye opener, we have a big week ahead we will work on something different and find a way to be more resilient.”
