BRADFORD Park Avenue will be looking to put the frustration of their FA Trophy postponements behind them as they visit Alfreton Town in National League North on Saturday.

Their opponents, managed by former Bradford City boss Nicky Law, have failed to live up to their billing as one of the favourites for promotion.

They were relegated from the top tier of non-league football last season and the subsequent budget cuts have clearly had an impact.

Their squad includes one of the heroes of Bradford City's run to the 2013 Capital One Cup final, goalkeeper Matt Duke, who missed their last match through injury.

Avenue go into tomorrow’s clash two places above Alfreton in the table and three points better off despite having played two fewer games.

Drury will be hoping that his side, who drew 2-2 with Alfreton at Horsfall Stadium on the first day of the season, will be raring to go after their FA Trophy first round tie with National League high flyers Lincoln City was twice postponed.

The Avenue boss said: “It was more frustration on Wednesday after Saturday was called off but it’s not the fault of the pitch or the club, the amount of rain there’s been in the area has been the problem.

“As difficult as it has been to keep arranging training at the last minute and keeping the lads busy and in good spirits, Wednesday has gone and we have to focus on the Alfreton game.

“It’s going to be a big one for us because I thought that first game of the season was a big learning curve. We were 2-0 up at half-time and they came back, even though they had two men sent off, and got a draw with a late penalty.

“I think that affected us and you could see it in the next four or five results. It definitely affected us and it was hanging over us for a long while before we started to get our season going.”

Bradford are in better form than Law’s side going into the game at the Impact Arena.They have lost just one of their last ten league games while their hosts have won only one of their games over the same period.

Drury knows that current form is no guide, especially after a couple of weeks of inactivity. He said: “Alfreton had a good run after our first game, but they have been a bit up and down recently.

"We know enough about them to realise they are a very good side, very difficult to beat and it will be a battle for us.

"Nicky has been around the game long enough and had some success, he suffered relegation last season but that doesn’t make him a bad manager.

“He is very competent and knowledgeable and I have spoken to him regularly over the years. I have a lot of respect for him. It’ll be good to see him and I’m looking forward to pitting myself against him again, then having a drink with him after the game.”