National North
Mark Bower says fine margins is all what is separating Bradford (Park Avenue) from their first win of the campaign.
Avenue have been unable to record a success in their opening seven games but performances have good and Bower says his men have been unlucky.
“When you don’t get those results it is a soul-destroying job,” Bower told Non League Yorkshire.
“It has been difficult because on the whole we certainly haven’t got what we have deserved out of games.
“We have deserved more than the three points we have got.
“We’re not getting beat three-or-four nil or getting played off the park, we have been in every single game and we know a bit more quality in the final third and a bit more luck and we would have been sat comfortably in mid-table at this moment in time.
“We have looked solid, organised.
“No-one has torn us to bits.
“Our quality has been poor and we have missed a few chances and we’re definitely not had much luck and we have had a few decisions go against us.
“We should have had a few penalties.
“It is frustrating at the minute because I think we are playing much better than our results suggest but scoring goals is an issue for us at the minute and it is something we have to sort out.”
Bower says in the majority of matches his side have been unfortunate not to score.
“It is hard to explain,” he said.
“We went really attacking 4-4-2 at Leamington but we couldn’t get going in the first half.
“We probably need a re-jig to how we are doing it.
“We just feel we’re that one percent away from turning those 1-0 defeats into wins.
“At Leamington we had a perfectly good goal disallowed in the second half and then in the last minute Sam Fielding hits a shot which was flying into the corner of the net and the ball clearly hit the defender’s arm.
“It stopped a goal and all we got was a corner. Things like that aren’t going for us.
“You look at the games against King’s Lynn and Kidderminster, we didn’t look too much of a threat but the same could be said for the opposition.
“At Scarborough we scored two, hit the post and the goalie pulled off a worldie in the second half so we could have been three or four up in that game before they scored.
“At Leamington we had a couple cleared off-the-line, should have had a penalty and had a goal disallowed.
“Even in the Spennymoor game, early on and late on we had some decent chances.
“We have to be better.
“We haven’t produced enough in the final third but equally we need something to go in for us to give the lads a lift.
“You’re concerned when you haven’t won after seven games.
“(This time) last year we had nicked a fortunate win at Darlington but this squad is stronger and better and I’m confident we can get that elusive win and it will breed the confidence and you will see what the players are about and what qualities they have got.”
Providing the National North fixtures go ahead this weekend, Avenue play at home on Saturday on Monday – hosting Gloucester City and then Darlington.
It is perfect chance to get up and running.
“It is a great opportunity,” he said.
“There is a great opportunity to get ourselves going.
“We were pretty strong at home last season, especially against teams who were in the bottom half of the table.
“We had a really good record against those sides.”
Bower also confirmed he was looking at adding more firepower to his side and potential new recruits were attending training this week.