MARK Bower will look to get BRADFORD PARK AVENUE'S survival bid back on track as he takes his side to Bower Fold to face fellow strugglers Stalybridge Celtic.

Avenue are just one point above the National North drop zone after back-to-back home defeats, while tonight's hosts dropped to the foot of the table after a 1-0 defeat to promotion-chasing Darlington on Saturday.

Steve Burr's side are 15 points below the current safety mark but would climb off of the basement with a home win, although their confidence will be low.

They have endured three consecutive losses during a tough run against Stockport County and Salford City before Darlington's visit.

Following Saturday's 3-1 home defeat to neighbours Halifax, Bower said: "Our form has been better away from home and we have three games on the road now where we'll be looking to kick on and start pulling away again.

"Saturday's defeat was a hard one to take because I thought we had played well against a side pushing for promotion. It wasn't our performance that was the problem and I'm sure if we keep working hard that we'll start picking points up again."

Bower had criticised the officiating of Saturday's derby, in which both sides ended with ten men. Avenue striker Oli Johnson was dismissed and Bower said: "I thought it was harsh because Oli slipped when he was making the tackle that resulted in his second yellow card.

"It was one of those when you could see why the referee had sent him off – but the same criteria weren't applied throughout the whole game.

"One of their lads was on a yellow and he caught one of our players in the face with an attempted clearance because his foot was that high. You can't send one off and not the other."

Avenue travel to Telford, who are just three points ahead, on Saturday and then to seventh-placed Darlington the following Wednesday.

Tonight is a busy one for semi-professional clubs in the Bradford area, with another four games featuring local sides.

It could be a big night for FARSLEY CELTIC as they look to claim the outright leadership in Division One North of the Evo-Stik League.

The Celts are top on goal difference after their last-minute win at the weekend as they host second-bottom Goole.

This fixture is one of two games in hand over title rivals Lancaster City, who slipped to defeat at Colwyn Bay on Saturday.

Goole have not travelled well this season, losing 12 of their 17 games on the road, and go into the Farsley game on the back of a 2-0 defeat at Glossop North End.

Ninth-placed BRIGHOUSE TOWN are in action in the same division as they make the short journey to take on Ossett Albion, who lost at Farsley over the weekend.

Paul Quinn's men held Ramsbottom United to a 2-2 draw on Saturday, while the Unicorns were beaten 2-1 at Throstle Nest.

There are two local games in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League, both in the Premier Division as Thackley and Liversedge have home games.

THACKLEY lost their place in the top four on Saturday after being held to a 1-1 home draw by Athersley and they now face a visit from third-placed Bridlington Town.

Tenth-placed LIVERSEDGE are looking to bounce back from a derby defeat to Albion Sports but host an AFC Mansfield side three places above them and four points better off.