BRADFORD Park Avenue are set for a firecracker of a game as they will warm-up for Bonfire Night with a trip to old adversaries FC United of Manchester on Saturday.

The fixture will evoke memories of their past clashes, including one play-off tie at Horsfall Stadium when the sky was lit and the stands were thick with smoke after one of FC United’s large following set off a flare.

Avenue boss Mark Bower will be hoping that he can light the blue touchpaper under his players.

Park Avenue need to put last Saturday’s abject display behind them if they are to climb back off the foot of the Vanarama National North table.

Following last week’s 1-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Stalybridge Celtic, Bower spoke of a deal for a forward that had fallen through last Friday.

The manager is expecting that player to arrive in time for their trip to Manchester.

He said: “The signing should be done in time, all being well, and he is a good player who will make things happen at the top end of the pitch.

“He is a flair player with an eye for goal and he’ll be a threat. He will also bring other players into the right areas and give us something that has been missing.

"A lack of goals has been a problem - more so at home where we’ve lacked creativity.

“Everyone is looking for that type of player, so it’s been difficult getting him. We also looked at getting Nicky Clee after he left Guiseley this week but we’ve missed out on that.

“Nicky wasn’t short of offers and he got a staggering one from Harrogate Town that I think anyone in this league would have struggled to match.

"I was at Guiseley when we brought him in and he’d been unlucky with injuries the season before but is a terrific player. I think he’ll do really well at Harrogate and is a great signing for them.”

FC United go into the game in 15th place after suffering back-to-back defeats but they are ten points above Avenue, who were dumped back onto the foot of the table last Saturday.

Avenue are seven points adrift of safety but are only below Altrincham on goal difference and are two points worse off than Stalybridge.

Bower will have midfielder Luke Dean back from suspension and utility man Adam Nowakowski back from injury.