BRADFORD Park Avenue are eagerly anticipating their trip to face fellow former Football League outfit Stockport County on Saturday.

The Hatters have a more recent history of life in the full-time ranks and they still play at Edgeley Park, and Bradford boss John Deacey feels that will be a big incentive for visiting teams.

He said: “Stockport are a big club with a big ground and there will be a big crowd and a big atmosphere. Our players will enjoy playing at Edgeley Park because it is still League standard.

“That might work against Stockport over the season because there will also be big expectations of them. They have spent a lot of money and have made a lot of very good signings.”

Avenue go there in a lofty fifth place in the embryonic Vanarama Conference North table.

Deacey’s men are unbeaten after three games – one of just seven clubs yet to taste defeat – and are the divisions joint-top scorers.

Yet, despite that statistic, Bradford have not been able to use two of their three main strikers so far.

Recent signing Bradley Barraclough and Alex Davidson have had to watch Chib Chilaka lead the line, although Avenue’s average 2.33 goals per game have been spread about. Only Paul Walker has netted twice so far.

Deacey said: “We have no fresh injuries from last Saturday, so that means I’ve just got the four players missing through injury, with Nathan Turner, Adam Clayton, Brad and Alex all out.

“I wish I had Brad and Alex available for such a big game.

“When you take on big clubs like Stockport, you like to have your best players available.

“Stockport have had a mixed start but they have played good opposition.

“They lost to North Ferriby and then Guiseley, who are both among the teams to beat this season.

“Then they played Tamworth, who are another who will be up there, and they won so they will be full of confidence following that result.”