Avenue are struck by red card misery

Already without the suspended Nathan Hotte and Jordan Deacey, Avenue had Richard Marshall dismissed after the second goal for collecting a second yellow card. Marshall was already due to miss the New Year’s Day derby at home to Guiseley through suspension, along with Hotte, Deacey, James Knowles and Matty James.

Once again Avenue paid for missing their chances but they were also victims of some excellent goalkeeping by Alex Cairns, the 19-year-old on loan to Stalybridge from Leeds United.

John Deacey’s men fell behind after only three minutes when Jack Laird’s shot came back off the bar for Jamie Mullan to score.

Jordan Snodin, son of former Leeds captain Ian Snodin, is on a month’s loan from Elland Road and he made his debut in Avenue’s central midfield.

But it was Mullan who turned goal-maker on the hour with an astute pass to Tom Buckley, whose shot from just outside the area found the bottom corner.

Marshall then received his second caution, which reduced Avenue to 10 men. He was ordered off by stand-in referee Dave Fisher after the original official, Scott Oldham, withdrew at half-time with a pulled muscle.

Waterlogged pitches caused FC Halifax Town, Guiseley and Harrogate Town to suffer home postponements against Corby, Colwyn Bay and Droylsden, respectively.