This Saturday sees the Shaymen make the short journey to Bradford Park Avenue’s Horsfall Stadium, with Town hoping to bounce back from a disappointing week; the Shaymen battled to a 0-0 draw last weekend at home to Boston, before suffering a 1-0 defeat away at Alfreton in the midweek, a result which ended an eight-game unbeaten run.
A lot has changed since Denton, Sinnott and a Simmons double provided Town with a comfortable 4-0 victory at the Shay back in September.
That result left Bradford Park Avenue languishing deep in the relegation zone after picking up just the three points from their opening thirteen games. Since then, however, the West Yorkshire side have improved greatly and, having won the three games prior to last Saturday’s defeat to Gloucester, they now sit in 18th place – two points clear of the relegation zone.
Park Avenue may not be too glad to be on home soil as they are in the midst of a disappointing run of results which has seen them pick up just the one win in their last four (a 5-1 dismantling of Gainsborough).
The Shaymen, meanwhile, are in excellent form on their travels, with Alfreton on Tuesday being the one blemish on their record since early January. Victories against Tamworth (6-2), Altrincham (1-0) and Worcester (2-1) preceded the setback in midweek.
It would be fair to say that a win for both sides is much-needed. Park Avenue could fall back into the drop zone if Worcester can pick up a victory away at Nuneaton and Gainsborough can pick up a point at home to AFC Fylde. While Town could fall as low as ninth if results go against them on Saturday with a multitude of teams battling for a spot in the playoffs.
On the injury front, the game on Saturday will come too soon for Scott McManus, with the defender back in training following a knee injury. While in the short-term Josh MacDonald may not be passed fit following a foot injury.
For Park Avenue, Nicky Boshell is still a doubt for Saturday, with Emile Sinclair and Aidan Chippendale possibly coming in. New signing, Gavin Rothery, may make his first start for Avenue, with Jake Hibbs unable to play in this fixture.
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Bradford Park Avenue: LWWWLL
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