Witton Albion 1, Bradford Park Avenue 4

 When Rooney scores his side usually win – but this was Wayne’s younger brother Tommy and his goal was a mere consolation for Witton Albion, who had been outplayed at home by Bradford Park Avenue.

The Avenue performance was good and it gave John Deacey a deserved winning start to his reign. This was the first time since he took over that the first team had seen any meaningful action.

Spokesman Kevin Hainsworth said: “It was a difficult start for John because we had players out of position because of availability problems. Roy Stamer played at left back and Stuart Rudd at centre half because Mark Haran was suspended.

“We played some decent football though. The ball was always on the ground and there was a lot of movement. I don’t think we can say that has always been the case in other regimes.”

Avenue had an excellent, if fortunate, start as they broke the deadlock in the fourth minute. Rory Patterson’s free-kick took a big deflection and the change in trajectory beat the home keeper all ends up.

If that goal was fortuitous the second was almost perfection as, just after the half hour, Luke Holden hit an exquisite left-foot shot that nestled in the top corner.

Avenue did not have it all their own way in the first half. Basement outfit Witton carved out three good chances and keeper Jon Worsnop had to make two fine saves to ensure his side reached the break with their two-goal lead intact.

The visitors repeated their whirlwind start to the first period by taking the bull by the horns in the second half and it was Patterson on target again, scoring his second with a header following a well-worked free-kick.

Holden also bagged himself a brace and his second was from a header as well. Another patient build-up, with passes through a lot of players and different areas, led to Mark Bett and his cross picked out Holden.

Rooney spoiled Deacey’s hopes of a clean sheet on his managerial debut for Avenue when he netted Witton’s goal in the 85th minute.

There was still time for Patterson to waste a final opportunity for the visitors. With the whiff of a hat-trick in his nostrils, he attempted a shot from an impossible angle when striker Chris Hall, on as a second-half substitute, was well placed and begging for a pass.