BRADFORD Park Avenue face a big weekend with two games in the space of three days as the Vanarama National League North takes shape.

A disappointing start means Avenue are still looking for their first win of the new campaign and are well down the table.

They host mid-table North Ferriby United tomorrow but travel to Harrogate Town on Bank Holiday Monday for what should be an intense derby.

Bradford boss Martin Drury knows the significance of the back-to-back fixtures, and said: “It’s a massive weekend for us, there’s no doubt about it.

“We let ourselves down at Corby Town last Saturday and the first thing that we’ll be aiming to do is put that right.

"Secondly we want to put some points on the board and climb that table.

“This is a big opportunity and we need to grasp it because we could be halfway up the table or scrapping it out with Telford United for bottom spot a week tomorrow when we play them at home.”

Billy Heath’s side is different to the one that beat Wrexham to win the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium last May after a tightening of the purse strings, but they have proved that they are up for the fight.

Ferriby may have only won one of their five games so far but they have only lost once as well.

They are unbeaten since their 1-0 defeat at Tamworth United on the opening day of the season, and Tamworth are currently fourth.

Monday might even prove tougher for Avenue as they head to Harrogate, who are currently fifth, have banked ten points from a possible 15 and are also unbeaten since the opening day of the season.

Drury’s main concern is finding an emergency goalkeeper after Avenue’s No 1 Jon Stewart picked up an injury.

The Bradford boss said: “Jon has had to pull out with a back problem, so we’re going to have to get a keeper in on loan before the weekend.

“It’s a big blow because Jon is a top-quality keeper and he’s done exactly what we expected of him since he came in.

"He’s been class and has put in some excellent performances, so it is a big blow to us.

“Just what we didn’t need just before a big weekend but that’s football – you just get on with it.”