ALTRINCHAM assistant boss Neil Sorvel described the team’s shock 2-0 National League North defeat at Bradford (Park Avenue) as the poorest performance in his time at the club.

The Robins suffered a damaging defeat with a display unrecognisable from the previous week’s heroics at Portsmouth in the FA Cup.

It was a former Alty fans favourite, Nicky Clee, having only signed from Ashton United last Thursday, who created both goals for the West Yorkshire side as they belied their bottom-of-the-table position to deservedly secure a third league victory of the season.

Clee and Oli Johnson combined well in the 12th minute to set up a simple close-range tap-in for Tom Clare, who scored on his debut having signed from Boston United and that set the tone for the game as Alty struggled to reach any sort of acceptable level.

Jordan Hulme went closest to equalising midway through the first half, latching on to a wayward Billy Priestley header before rounding Joe Green in the Bradford goal but his effort from just inside the area hit the bar.

There was a further blow for the visitors when John Johnston pulled up with a hamstring injury & had to be replaced by Luke Wall.

The second half saw the Robins dominate possession without managing to create any chances and it was Tony Thompson who was the busier keeper, making a fine save from Jon Royle midway through the half.

However, he was helpless to prevent Park Avenue sealing the points in the 88th minute as Johnson broke the offside trap to latch on to a slide-rule ball from Clee to round Thompson and slide the ball into the empty net.

Sorvel said: “It was possibly as poorly as we have played in the three seasons that we have been at the club.

“We didn’t create enough and in this brutal league anyone can beat you if you are not somewhere near the top of your game.

“We need to respond to this kick up the backside to get back on track this Saturday in the FA Trophy game at Farsley Celtic.”