Steve Oleksewycz came off the bench to hit the winner for Avenue in his 100th appearance for the club at Ashton - and then urged the team to kick-start their league season again.

The 86th-minute goal put Avenue into the next round of the UniBond League President's Cup but more importantly gave them their first victory since late October.

"I've been dying to get that goal - and I hope I can build on from that now," said Oleksewycz.

"It is a question of getting match fit after being out for nine weeks injured. I think the side can get back to winning ways in the league now."

It was also a relief for manager Gary Brook, who brought two new players into yesterday's line-up - young Carlisle United goalkeeper Neil Thompson and on-loan central defender Jason Wray from Harrogate Town.

Wray, who started his career at Sheffied Wednesday, played for Avenue last season but joined Harrogate during the summer.

He lined up alongside Dean Jones in central defence, with Tom Agus taking the left-back role and Niall O'Brien continuing at right back. The no-nonsense back four looked quite solid for Avenue.

"We had to give Ollie (Oleksewycz) 20 or 25 minutes but Tom Greaves had a couple of great chances in the first half and it will come back for him as well," said Brook, who substituted Greaves for Oleksewycz after 75 minutes. "Earlier in the season everything was going in for him. It happens for strikers.

"We looked strong - I thought we looked strong all over the pitch. We dug in when we had to and I thought we were head and shoulders above Ashton."

In a first half of few chances, it was Avenue who should have taken the lead. Curtis Bernard, who had scored in the previous two matches, was desperately unlucky in the 29th minute when he crashed the ball against a post with goalkeeper Ashley Connor well beaten.

Then Greaves twice went close - the second a flying header which flashed wide after a great run and cross by Dean Calcutt.

Agus was a constant threat with marauding runs down the left, while Craig Smith showed some neat touches in central midfield in the absence of Danny Walsh.

The second half started in scrappy fashion and Avenue almost gave a goal away in the 64th minute when a Jones mistake let in Alex Tisse and he looked

to be brought down in the penalty area by Thompson, who was injured in the

collision. Fortunately for Avenue, the referee saw no foul.

At the other end, Bernard outpaced the Ashton defence and shot narrowly wide.

Danny White then hit the bar for the home side before Oleksewycz struck that killer blow in the 86th minute.

Liam Flynn put in a fine cross from the left and Oleksewycz missed his first opportunity but made no mistake the second time when he coolly side-footed the ball into the corner of the net for a superb winner.

It was a victory Avenue deserved and they must now take that form into their league game at Gateshead next Saturday.

New man Wray, a towering figure in defence, will certainly strengthen the Avenue defence, although he is only on loan for a month. He made five starts for Harrogate in the Conference North this season before making his switch.

Teenager Thompson had little to do in the Avenue goal. The 6ft 4in youngster is on work experience and despite doing little wrong, Brook is still keeping a look-out for a more experienced keeper as he battles to strengthen his defence.