BRADFORD Park Avenue's marathon FA Trophy campaign will continue on Monday night when they make another attempt to host National League high-fliers Lincoln City.

It will be the third time the Imps have geared up for the trip to Horsfall Stadium for the first-round tie.

Avenue only came into the competition in the previous round but they are already preparing for their sixth game following one abandonment and three postponements so far.

Club boss Martin Drury is having to get his squad prepared for games, only for their hopes to be dashed.

It is also continuing to wreak havoc with the training schedule and Drury said: "It's just been more frustration time after time and I've got to keep the players motivated and ready for the next game.

"Saturday was really bad and it was no surprise when that one was called off – but then just four more days to get them ready again and then it's off again.

"We trained properly after Wednesday with today's league game (at Alfreton) in mind but you have to get the work and rest balance right.

"We have to put our trust in the players at times like these and ask them to do their bit themselves at their local gym and jogging.

"To be fair, we have a very good bunch of lads here and they have kept themselves as fit as they possibly can.

"Any non-League manager will tell you the same though; when games get called off, especially a few games in a short space of time, it's a nightmare.

"You are left ringing round trying to find suitable facilities at the last minute and then there is the added expense of all that."

The infuriating stop-start period could not have come at a worse time as Drury's side are starting to climb the league and are on the verge of breaking into the top half of the table.

Avenue stretched their unbeaten run to seven games with an impressive 3-1 home victory over Stalybridge Celtic in the league and won their Trophy tie at Buxton when that game finally got the go-ahead.

They are in good form and the last thing they needed was a break in their momentum.

"This league is so tight that a couple of wins can take you up a long way and that's what's happened with us," said Drury.

"Suddenly it doesn't look too bad and a win at Alfreton today could take us into the top half – but a loss drags us right back into it, so no-one's getting carried away.

"We'll just keep going about our business quietly. I'm not too bothered about our position in the table at this stage.

"It's in April when it counts and we'll just try and keep our run going and see where it takes us."