Bradford Park Avenue are seeking an upturn in away form in the UniBond Premier Division after taking a maximum six points from their two home games and none on the road.

They face a visit to newly promoted Ashton United tomorrow. The two sides had some close contests in Division One before Avenue made the step up two seasons ago.

Now they are back in direct competition, the rivalry will be as keen as ever. An epic Roses clash is on the cards.

Avenue are ninth in the table, six points behind leaders Altrincham whose 100 per cent record is intact, but 14th placed Ashton trail them by just one point after a good victory at Gainsborough Trinity on Bank Holiday Monday.

Trevor Storton's men go into the game without last season's second top scorer Jason Maxwell for a second time but draft defender Phil Atkinson back into the squad.

Manager Storton has released former Derby County defender Gareth Holmes so he names his only fit 14 players for the trip.

"We are working with a tight squad at the moment and we have to carry on with what we have. But we are looking at the market and I might have two players coming in on Monday.

"Jason has not recovered from his groin strain and he could be another week or two. "We could have done with his experience at this level for this match, it won't be easy by any means.

"All the games in this division are tough away from home and Ashton have not done bad for their start at this higher level. They will be brimming with confidence after their result at Gainsborough so we will have to be on top of our game."

Thackley are back in action in the Northern Counties East Premier Division after being handed a re-arranged home fixture with Armthorpe Welfare.

Head coach Mick Wood said, "It was a bitter disappointment to go out at such an early stage but it will give us a chance to get a home game in the league because we need points.

"It's early days yet but the longer you go without a win the more frustration creeps in, we have been satisfied with the performances so far but things begin to play on the mind and then become an issue."

Skipper and defensive rock Mark Sugden will be missing for three weeks. He got married today and was due to jet off for a long honeymoon. Striker Andy Patterson is back in contention after missing Monday's 1-1 draw at Ossett Albion and Dave Nelson has been recalled to the squad.

Bradford Park Avenue (from); Turner, Daly, Mitchell, Stansfield, James, Prendergast, Lindley, Benn, Martin, Quinn, Hayward, Painter, Tracey, Atkinson

Thackley (from); Brian, Taylor, Oliver, Brooks, Riley, Metcalfe, Packer, Cunningham, March, Wood, Ferrand, Patterson, Nelson, Midgely.