Stephenson was a key loss for Durham prior to the Bradford game

Unibond Premier Division bottom side Durham City racked up a 24th straight league defeat with a 7-0 loss at home to league leaders Bradford PA.

Park Avenue earned the points thanks to a hat-trick from Chris Hall, a brace from Stephen Downes and efforts from Brice Tiani and Chris Ovington.

City lost key midfielder Andrew Stephenson in the build-up, and the club await news on his fitness.

Guiseley are City's next opponents this Saturday (27 February).

Durham's plight began back in the summer, when the Football Association confirmed that the club's plastic pitch would deny them promotion to Conference level.

The news prompted club sponsors to pull their contributions. In turn, the majority of the side that won promotion from Unibond Division One North last season also left the club.

In addition manager Lee Collings has been banned for 15 matches after the club was docked six points and fined £2,000 for fielding an ineligible player.

Interim-boss Dickie Ord has been forced to blood youngsters from the local college to bolster his squad.

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