MARK Bower is facing the prospect of losing former Bradford City defender Reece Staunton for three games later this month, a situation the Bradford (Park Avenue) manager finds baffling.

Staunton received a straight red card in the first half of Avenue's battling 2-2 draw at Farsley Celtic in National League North on New Year's Day, a result which leaves the visitors three points clear of the drop zone ahead of their home game against fellow strugglers Kettering Town tomorrow.

On Staunton's dismissal, Bower fumed: "It's just not a red card.

"Referees seem to have got it in their head that if a player has the ball, then takes a heavy touch and reaches to win it back but misses it, it's a sending off.

"Reece's feet weren't off the ground, his studs weren't showing and he's not really lunged for the ball.

"He and his opponent kicked each other as much as anything.

"But Farsley have some experienced players, who created a commotion and played the referee well I felt.

"If that was a sending off, we might as well make football a non-contact sport.

"We've appealed it, but if it doesn't get rescinded, he'll be able to play this weekend against Kettering but then miss out on our next three games.

"Jamie Spencer got a three-game ban earlier in the season and we showed the panel HD footage that he'd done nothing wrong but the red still stood.

"Hopefully we have better luck with Reece's appeal."

Another ex-Bantam in the spotlight on New Year's Day was Avenue goalkeeper George Sykes-Kenworthy, with the normally reliable 23-year-old conceding two penalties.

Bower defended his stopper, saying: "When we were under pressure in the second half, George was as safe as ever.

"The penalties didn't affect him and it shows how well he's done for us since signing that we're even talking about them.

"He doesn't tend to really make any mistakes, but the odd one happens to even the best keepers.

"We kept a clean sheet in the second half, with 10 men and playing into the wind, so George had to be bang at it and he was.

"I'm sure he'll continue to be excellent for us going forward."

Teenage full-back Tom Angell returned to parent club Sheffield United earlier this week, and Bower said: "Tom did a great job for us.

"He came in when we were struggling and allowed us to play a shape that suits us.

"Will Longbottom came in for Tom at left wing-back over the last few weeks, so he'd been out of the team, but his experience here will have served him well.

"He's gone back to Sheffield United as a better player and we wish him well for the future."

Barnsley's Will Lancaster, like Angell, has returned to his parent club, but otherwise Avenue have a strong squad to face Kettering, with Harrison Hopper also back from an infection.

Fourth-bottom Kettering are in the final relegation spot, and Avenue can go six points clear of them with a win tomorrow.

But Bower said: "All our games are big and they're all chances to win and go further clear of the teams below us.

"If this fixture had been with six games left, with us and Kettering in these positions, I might have answered differently, but there's still a long way to go this season.

"We've been in decent form over the last month or so though, so we're looking to keep that up this weekend."