A SIGNIFICANT victory over long-time rivals FC United of Manchester in midweek means that Bradford Park Avenue head to Lowestoft Town on Saturday in high spirits.

Wednesday’s 3-1 home win in a fixture that should have taken place on Boxing Day extended Avenue’s unbeaten run to four games as Martin Drury’s side revive their season.

Avenue make the trip to Crown Meadow in 15th place in the table, and looking upwards once again.

Drury’s men could go above Stockport County – who held them to a frustrating goalless draw at Horsfall Stadium last weekend – should they win, and they would still have games in hand on their former Football League rivals.

The Avenue boss has got injury concerns and had to play people out of position last weekend’s against Stockport.

Drury said: “Adam Mather was involved in a car accident on his way to training a week last Thursday.

"He was driving, and Paul Marshall was in the car with him.

“They both ended up in hospital that night and missed last Saturday’s game as they needed time to recover. They both suffered whiplash injuries.

"Jake Scott was missing with an ankle injury, and Richard Marshall and Alex Pursehouse were also injured.

“All of that meant that I had to put players in, and it may have looked an unbalanced side but they were all capable and I had no worries about the line-up.

"They didn’t just do a job, they helped us dominate a game against a very good side and we were unfortunate not to win it.”

The point they picked up against the Hatters and the three from the midweek win over FC United has put Avenue five points above the relegation trapdoor and three places higher than tomorrow’s hosts.

However, the Trawlerboys should prove strong opponents, as promotion-chasing AFC Fylde will testify.

Lowestoft beat fourth-placed Fylde 3-1 at home on Tuesday to end a run of three successive defeats, one of which was a 6-1 loss at FC United.

Avenue signed left back Darren Thornton from Nantwich Town in midweek, and he made an instant impression as his free-kick delivery led to the third goal in the win over FC United.

Richard Marshall was back in contention in midweek and was on the bench, but the other four injured players were not in the squad, although they have not been ruled out of the weekend’s trip.