Avenue will have to get their minds back on football for tomorrow's trip to high-flying Stalybridge Celtic.

Yesterday's home tie at Horsfall was abandoned in horrific circumstances after keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel was involved in a clash that left him unable to breathe.

Thankfully the German has recovered and last night wished his team-mates luck for the trip to Manchester and bizarrely apologised for causing the abandonment of the game against Harrogate Town with Avenue in the lead.

Pfannenstiel will be the first to say it was shame the game was called off because Avenue were in complete control at 2-1.

Playing the best football for weeks, the home side dominated the early proceedings. New signing Simon Collins, picked up over Christmas from Belper Town, made the perfect start for his new club with a headed goal after just 91 seconds.

In a welcome boost for the club, Richard Tracey appeared happy to try to meet the challenge of replacing departed-wing wizard Rory Prendergast with some devastating early crosses.

Tracey's outswinger gave Collins a chance at a looping header, while his second, 15 minutes later, gave Robbie Painter the opportunity to nod down at the near post for the second to put Avenue in full control.

It was Harrogate's first attack in which Pfannenstiel picked up the injury and the visitors their goal.

A loose ball lofted into the net by Paul Sykes had come from the initial collision between German and striker, with the goal coming when the referee should really have stopped the game.

The initial fury at the decision to play-on soon dissipated when the players realised the seriousness of their colleague's injury.

"I went and gave the ref a real mouthful," said skipper Wayne Benn, whose record appearance was annulled by the abandonment.

"But then we worried about Lutz. It was quite upsetting to see him like that and I had to walk away.

"Ray Killick, the physio, has done a great job there. He saved his life.

"It is a shame about what happened because we were playing so well," he said.

"We were all over them, that is the sort of performance we needed.

"I don't think they had a single shot and we were definitely on top."

And the players will need a repeat of that going into tomorrow's game.

It will be a reunion with former midfielder Dean Martin, who was axed earlier in the season, and who has promised a big performance against his old club.

Phil Lindley returns from suspension while defender Andy Quinn, on the bench yesterday, is expected to make his first appearance in seven weeks.

Goalkeeper James Holmshaw will make his third start for the club, once again coming in for the injured Pfannenstiel.

Teenage striker Anthony Bingham is suspended.