BRADFORD Park Avenue will need to extend their fine home record this term if they are to get anything from the visit of Tamworth tomorrow.

The Lambs are just two points outside the play-off places in Vanarama National League North, and Andy Morrell’s side are unbeaten in their last six league games, taking 14 points from a possible 18 to keep their promotion challenge alive.

Avenue were side-tracked by a knockout tie last Monday, when they booked their place in a second consecutive West Riding County Cup final.

The holders overcame a dreadful start to sweep aside Ossett Albion 6-2 after recovering from being two goals down after just seven minutes.

Bradford had climbed a place in the table after last weekend’s goalless draw at fellow strugglers Brackley Town but slipped back to 16th on Tuesday after FC United of Manchester leapt five places with a 2-1 win at leaders Solihull Moors.

The movement generated by just one result as FC United vaulted over four clubs proved just how tight the lower mid-table area is.

That will not have been lost on the clubs in and around Avenue who know that they can put a significant gap between themselves and the trapdoor with one good result.

Martin Drury’s men already have a four-point cushion over the clubs in the relegation zone and some games in hand on all three of them.

The Avenue boss is also satisfied with the attitude and effort of his players.

Following the cup-tie win, he said: “Of course, we weren’t happy about conceding the two early goals, but we have to give credit to Ossett Albion for the way they started.

“From then on the reaction of our players was pleasing. They all continued to get on the ball and play football the right way, and at times our play was of high quality on a difficult surface.”

Lamin Colley bagged a hat-trick, with Richard Marshall, Michael Potts and Callum Terrell also on target, the latter opening his account for Avenue.

Two of Avenue’s young Bantams loanees got run-outs with their parent club’s development side as Bradford City Reserves hosted their counterparts from Wigan on Tuesday.

Reece Webb-Foster was in the starting line-up and Dylan Mottley-Henry played almost 40 minutes as a second-half substitute. Both will be back in contention for Avenue tomorrow.

Drury said: “There is a good spirit around the group and we are now looking forward to the weekend against an in-form Tamworth. We trained this week and we're ready for tomorrow.”