BRADFORD Park Avenue will be seeking swift retribution when Salford City visit Horsfall Stadium on Sunday.
Avenue were paired with the Ammies in Vanarama National League North for the holiday fixtures and, after Mark Bower’s men were narrowly beaten at Moor Lane on Boxing Day, they have the chance to avenge that on New Year’s Day.
Avenue keeper Jon Worsnop saved a first-half penalty and made a string of fine saves in the second half but his heroics counted for nothing as Salford bagged all three points, courtesy of Josh Hine’s late strike.
It was centre back James Knowles’ 200th appearance for Avenue and, though he was proud of the milestone, he was disappointed by the result.
He said: “I heard that I’m only the seventh player have reached that figure for the club since it reformed, so it’s an honour but it’s just a shame that we didn’t get the result.
“Salford play a certain way and the pitch and the weather suited them – they pumped it long and played off flick ons and headers.
"Spider (Worsnop) had a great game, and the penalty save was unbelievable, but they scored in the last few minutes, just after we’d had a great chance to take the lead, but the young lad (on-loan Scunthorpe United teenager Jack Dyche) put it just over.
“They are a good side but then they’ve got a big budget and they’ve signed good players who have done well at this level.
"They’ve got height, power and strength right through their side, but we’re looking forward to playing them again on Sunday because we did well against them last week.
"We’ve got belief now – that’s what Bowser (Bower) and Danny Boshell (assistant player-manager) have instilled in us, and we know that on our day we can beat anyone in the league.”
The Boxing Day defeat left Avenue two points below the safety mark but the three clubs above the drop zone failed to make the most of their slip as they all drew.
Salford have their own agenda as the seventh-placed club are just two points outside the play-off places and are looking to extend their current seven-game unbeaten league run.
* More from James Knowles on his 200th appearance in Saturday’s Telegraph & Argus.
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