On Saturday, Bradford Park Avenue face North West Counties Division Two side Padiham in the FA Cup at Horsfall Stadium.

The Padiham manager, sitting in the stands watching last night's UniBond Premier Division match between Avenue and Whitby Town, must have been rubbing his hands with glee.

The match was dire and Avenue were not a patch on the side that hammered six goals past a shell-shocked AFC Telford United on Saturday.

Manager Gary Brook had more injury problems to contend with. Missing were centre forward Alex Nesovic with a hand injury and Liam Brompton with a knee problem but the side was not that dissimilar to the one that performed so well in the west midlands.

In came Richard Tracey for Nesovic and Chris Siddall partnered Dean Jones in the heart of the Avenue defence.

The Padiham boss saw little to worry his team - and 250 or so vociferous supporters won't affect his players one little bit. Padiham played in front of a crowd of 2,498 earlier this season at FC United in NWC2.

It's fair to say Padiham are a banana skin and Brook has some work on his hands before Saturday.

Some fans were asking why former Leeds United youth player Andy Quinn was

conspicuous by his absence. Quinn has had a transfer request accepted and his name has been circulated to UniBond and Conference League clubs. He won't figure in Avenue first-team plans again this

season.

Last night, Avenue could have grabbed all three points. Wael Nazha, who came on as substitute for the strangely quiet Steve Oleksewycz in the second half, had two great chances. He fluffed his first and then Whitby goalkeeper David Campbell made a great save to deny him near the end.

The visitors also had their opportunities. Anthony Ormerod looked to have a clear header on goal but put his effort wide.

Avenue's best football was played in the first half but it was hardly free-flowing. The most dangerous moments came from Dean Calcutt's long throws from the right-hand touchline.

The first 15 minutes had been abysmal and already 'bore draw' was written all over the game. Neither side could pass the ball - or shoot straight.

It was so different from last Saturday when chances were created and shots rained in on goal.

Tracey could have given Avenue the lead early on though when he took advantage of a poor defensive header and got to the ball ahead of Campbell. He rounded the keeper but snatched at his shot and the effort flew wide.

Phil Hadland then burst into the area and looked certain to at least test the

keeper but the ball was off target and despite howls of protest, the referee refused to award a corner.

Avenue were clearly missing Nesovic's aerial power - the Whitby defenders were too often hustling the Avenue forwards off the ball.

There were no chants of bring on Padiham...