BRADFORD (Park Avenue) boss Mark Bower said the journey for end of season glory will be difficult but that “it’s all to play for.”

His side have slumped to fourth in the Vanarama National League North, after a storming first half which saw them top the league.

They are still without a win in 2019 after last weekend’s 3-0 loss to fellow promotion rivals Brackley Town.

Bower said Avenue got into good areas, but lacked a bit of quality in the final third in the game.

The coach added: “We’ve just got to keep working hard. We’re in a position that no one ever thought in a million years we would be at this stage of the season.

“We’ve scored a lot of goals. We need to get back to keeping clean sheets, so there’s been a little bit more of a focus on not giving much away - the basics really.

“If we get that win, we’re confident it will bring a couple more.”

Avenue host a struggling Leamington side tomorrow who Bower sees as having similarities to themselves.

He said: “We’ve got a lot of respect for Leamington and what they’re about.  “They’re good at what they do and they’re punching well about their weight, like ourselves, in terms of league position and in what they’re working with, so we know they’ll be a tough nut to crack.”

Avenue’s plight has been boosted by the news of two new arrivals, who come in at a time when it’s all change after three players left.

The first to arrive was 19-year-old goalkeeper Charlie Andrew on loan until the end of the season from Hull City.

Bower said: “With Steven Drench leaving, we needed another goalkeeper and Charlie’s one that we’ve been keeping an eye on.  The coach is particularly impressed with Andrew’s attitude, having already made a number of loan appearances for Pickering Town.

He said: “For a player of his age to go out and get that number of games under his belt playing some real men’s football, that stands him out as someone who’s prepared to muck in and work hard to improve his game.”

The second signing was announced yesterday, with defender Romoney Crichlow-Noble - who can play in the centre as well as at left-back - joining on loan until the end of the season from Huddersfield.

Bower said: “Obviously there were places to fill, so we had to do that with what was available to us.   

He added: “We’re looking at other players as well and hopefully we’ll be able to bring in another one over the next couple of weeks as well. 

“You’re always looking and things always change in football - players come and go and we’ve still got an experienced squad there that can help the younger lads in what they need and hopefully the younger lads can help as well.”

Bower hopes the fresh blood can aid Avenue's campaign for success, but admits it will be difficult.

He added: "We'll give it everything we've got, the lads that we've got at the club are capable of it, they've proved it over the course of the season and if the young lads coming in as well can make an impact then we can still get results.

"We've put ourselves in a good position whereby, one good run can really cement our place in that top seven so it's all to play for and hopefully we can get that going on Saturday."