IF Bradford Park Avenue are to climb away from trouble in Vanarama National League North, they need to be taking points off the clubs in and around them, and that is why tomorrow’s game against Lowestoft Town is crucial.

Avenue are three places above their Suffolk visitors but are on the same points total.

The Trawlerboys dropped into the bottom three following last Saturday’s 4-0 home defeat to Tamworth.

It was Lowestoft’s fourth straight loss in an alarming run that has seen them lose six of their last eight league games, taking just four points from a possible 24.

Avenue, who have two games in hand on their rivals, were also beaten last time out but their defeat was at Stockport County, who occupy one of the play-off places.

Martin Drury’s men got a shot in the arm in midweek when they romped to a 7-0 away win against Albion Sports in the first step on their way to a successful West Riding County Cup defence, having won the trophy at Valley Parade last April.

Despite last Saturday’s defeat, Drury saw good signs, and said: “After a good start from Stockport, we began to take control of the game and managed to cut their back four open numerous time with great football.

“In the first half, our approach play was a lot better than in recent weeks as we attacked with pace and created some great situations. Unfortunately, when you go to places like Stockport, you’re not going to dominate for long spells.

“So when you are on top and creating chances, scoring goals becomes even more vital, and we didn’t finish off the moves we started.

“We conceded a poor goal from our point of view in the second half, and it knocked the wind out of us a bit.

"Then Stockport hit us with the second, which was a fantastic strike to be fair, but we looked mentally beaten.

“However, we battled back, and even at 2-0 down we created good chances late on but their keeper made a great save from Jason (St Juste) and Richard Marshall missed by an inch.”

St Juste celebrated his latest call up to the St Kitts and Nevis squad for the forthcoming friendly games in Andorra and Estonia with a goal in the midweek romp at Throstle Nest.

Marshall and Chib Chilaka both bagged braces, while Michael Potts and Craig King were also on the scoresheet.