BRADFORD (Park Avenue) were "terrible" according to manager Mark Bower last night, as they crashed to a disastrous 4-0 defeat at rock-bottom AFC Telford United.

Travel disruption for Avenue caused the game to be delayed until 8pm, but Avenue probably would have taken a few more hours in traffic jams over the humiliation they suffered on the pitch.

Telford were 13 points adrift at the foot of National League North going into the game, with just one league win in the whole of 2023.

Bower's side were three points from safety, and with only 10 games to go, this had the feel of a must-win encounter.

But they were miles off it, despite fielding a relatively strong squad given their recent injury problems.

It was all downhill for Avenue as early as the fourth minute, when Nathan Cameron headed home a corner for Telford, meeting the ball at the near post and guiding it across George Sykes-Kenworthy into the far corner.

Kai Williams then went close for the hosts, before Montel Gibson forced a save from Sykes-Kenworthy.

The Avenue stopper was keeping his side in the game, clawing away Harry Flowers' looping header midway through the first half.

Williams then had a shot that skidded just wide via a deflection, before Cameron's shinned effort was saved.

Avenue finally created a chance of their own through Will Longbottom, but his free-kick was shovelled wide by Joe Young.

Sadly for the visitors, two goals just before the break killed their chances of getting anything from the game.

First, Williams' pinpoint header from Brendon Daniels' right-wing cross found the net, before Telford won a penalty when Jordan Piggott was felled in the box.

Gibson's initial spot-kick was saved by Sykes-Kenworthy, but he reacted quickest to slot home the rebound.

Avenue gifted Telford a second penalty when Robbie Evans' shot was handled in the box.

This time, Gibson converted at the first time of asking, firing his penalty high down the middle of the goal and beyond Sykes-Kenworthy.

Avenue, playing for pride at this point, saw Harrison Hopper's volley saved by Young.

Jacob Blyth had a shot deflected just wide for the visitors, before Brad Dockerty fired the ball just off target with 20 minutes to go.

The game petered out thereafter, though Avenue had to endure 12 minutes of added time after a long delay when Piggott was stretchered off after falling awkwardly following a header.

He updated fans after leaving hospital to let them know he was okay barring the pulled neck muscles he suffered in the incident.

Back on the pitch, and Gibson fired just wide in the dying moments as he went searching for his hat-trick.

But Telford's work was already done, and though relegation is virtually guaranteed for them, they restored plenty of pride last night.

After last night's results, Avenue now sit four points from safety, and have to pick up some victories quickly if they want to avoid the drop.