PARK AVENUE go into the weekend just three points off fourth place in the Vanarama National League North but manager Mark Bower is hoping that the expectations on his side don’t spiral too high.

Bradford are in a good position after a five-game unbeaten run, but the boss called for calm. “Let’s not get carried away,” Bower said. “I think some people did when we lost three on the trot.

“There were some detractors out there and a lot of head shaking but we knew that we were playing okay for the most part and that we’d just lost three very difficult games, so we’ve got to stay level headed.

“We’ve got a small squad and we’re up against a lot of full-time teams in this division so you have to keep all these things in mind. Nuneaton, who we play today, Kidderminster Harriers, Salford City and York City, and Harrogate Town have gone full-time this season.

“You only have to look at the number of former Football League clubs, such as York and Stockport County, big clubs, and it shows that this level is probably the most professional it’s ever been.”

Bower is rightly pleased with the current position of the club but he is not as happy about the recent FA Cup draw. Avenue were handed an away tie at league counterparts Southport in the second qualifying round. Bower added: “We play Boston United at home on Monday and that will be our 11th game, that’s the first quarter of the league season gone.

“So, it’s nice to have some points on the board at this stage, we’re reasonably satisfied because we’ve given ourselves a decent start.

“But that’s all it is, a start, it’s a platform and it’s up to us to build on it.

“We’re more satisfied with the start to the league than our first game in the FA Cup this year that’s for sure. If you listed all the teams that we could have been drawn against, Southport away would have been one of the least favourable.

“But we certainly won’t go there with any fear and I think we’re in much better shape now than when they beat us at home in the league in the second game of the season.

“Maybe that will give us that extra bit of incentive to go there and beat them in the FA Cup.”