When Jay Sobers was thrown into the fray late in the second half against Gateshead on Wednesday, Avenue had given debuts to an astonishing seven players in one game.

But manager Phil Sharpe knew desperate measures were necessary and the wholesale changes were fully backed by the Avenue board.

"It wasn't a gamble," insisted Sharpe. "We would have lost every game the way we were playing. Now we have strong, experienced players who will battle to the end."

His assistant Clive Freeman got so involved in Wednesday's relegation battle that he was ordered from the touchline by the busy referee.

Avenue face Northern Premier League title challengers North Ferriby United at Horsfall Stadium tomorrow knowing they must get something from the match to keep in touch with Lincoln United, who are three points above them, having played the same number of games.

Avenue were hammered 5-2 at North Ferriby on the second game of the season but only one player remains from that woeful fixture - Tom Greaves.

Avenue's biggest worry (apart from being unable to win games) is that they must face North Ferriby, Marine and Blyth Spartans in the run-in.

But on the bright side, they also have winnable games looming against Runcorn, Ossett Town, AFC Telford and bottom club Radcliffe Borough.

Avenue chairman John Dean said: "I thought we looked excellent early on against Gateshead on Wednesday but the goal knocked us back. It's looking rough now for us. It's a massive task . That was a must-win game and we didn't do it.

"Now we've got to recover from that by beating North Ferriby tomorrow or going to Marine next week and winning that. But that is going to involve such a big effort.

"The fight is still on and we are doing everything we can. It's still tight at the foot of the table and there is a chance but we desperately need to start winning."

Bradford Park Avenue (from): Lamb, Howarth, Ball, Thacker, Harper, Robinson, Calcutt, Rowlands, James, Ross, Lee, Greaves, Sobers, Flynn.