BRADFORD (Park Avenue) face a stern test this evening as the race for promotion is reaching boiling point.

Mark Bower's men travel away to third-placed Spennymoor Town who boast one of the best home records in the division with only two losses all season.

The hosts are without a win in two games though, but will feel refreshed after an enforced break at the weekend with their game against Guiseley called off.

With fixture congestion inevitably beginning to take its toll as the season enters its final stages, an extra few days off for Spennymoor could prove something of an advantage.

But, this tie comes on the back of some fine form for Avenue who had been threatening to slide down the table with a disappointing January.

Bower's charges have solidified their position in the top seven after going unbeaten over the last five, including successive wins in their previous two fixtures.

The Avenue coach said: "It's just important to get the points on the board. We know where we want to be and we know what we feel we're capable of to get there. To get there, we've got to keep putting points on the board.

"Coming off a difficult spell in January, and not many games in February, we know we've put that sort of pressure on ourselves to go out and get these points in March.

A win for Avenue would put them level on points with tonight's opponents and could see them leapfrog Brackley Town into fourth if the result goes their way when they visit Hereford this evening.

What is certain, is that a victory would mean the gap to eighth place stretches to 10 points with only eight games left to go.

Bower admits that tonight's match will have a different feel to their ties of late - Avenue considered by most as favourites in three out of five of their fixtures in the recent run - with the side coming up against Spennymoor as underdogs.

The coach added: "Obviously we're in a good little run at the minute, the lads are buzzing and we're looking forward to the game.

"We've got some good options at the minute and the lads are confident and looking forward to each game and that can only bode well for the rest of the season."