TWO DEFEATS on the bounce and almost a fortnight out of action have left Bradford Park Avenue champing at the bit as they return to National North action at in-form Curzon Ashton tomorrow.

Avenue lost no ground in the table during their enforced mini-break so are still four points below the current safety mark.

The club immediately above them, fourth-from-bottom Alfreton Town, were denied a chance to pull away when their Tuesday game against FC Halifax Town fell to a waterlogged pitch.

Avenue boss Mark Bower has worked hard with his players and the extra recovery time has helped the ones who were carrying knocks.

He said: “We’ve brought Oli (Johnson from Guiseley) in since our last game and we’ve also been able to extend Wayne Brooksby’s loan so he’s still with us.

“We’ve still got Reece Webb-Foster with us – he’s on a youth loan so can still play for Bradford City’s youth team and reserves and, at his age, two or three games a week is easy.

“He played for City reserves (against Sheffield United) in midweek and scored the winner so that will have done his confidence the world of good.

“I’m expecting Matt Hill and Shane Killock to both be back in contention after their calf injuries. Hilly will certainly be available because he’s trained all week and Shane has been working hard in the gym and he could force his way back into the squad.”

Whoever Bower picks for the starting line-up will have to be ready because Curzon are in a rich vein of form. The Nash are unbeaten in four games and beat both leaders AFC Fylde and promotion-chasing Darlington in that run.

There was a surprise result in midweek however as they were held to a goalless draw by Stalybridge Celtic, the club immediately below Avenue. But Bower knows just how tough it will be for his side at the Tameside Stadium.

He said: “Curzon have had two fantastic results recently and they’re unbeaten in four so it’s going to be difficult. They play some lovely football to be fair and their players are encouraged to show what they’ve got and pass and move to cause opponents problems.

“We have got to start well and get on the front foot to counter their style. They are all tough games in this league but we have to go into every one of them looking to win because wins are vital – we need points on the board.

“We can’t really focus on what the teams above us do because we need to concentrate on our own job, which is getting enough points to keep us in the National North.

“The situation changes week by week so it’s impossible to predict but it’s vital that we get on a little run and we need to start that at Curzon tomorrow.”