Master and pupil come face to face on Saturday when Bradford Park Avenue boss John Deacey takes his side to Lee Sinnott’s Altrincham in Blue Square Bet North.

Former Bantam ‘Sinbad’ inherited Deacey as his assistant when he moved into management with Farsley Celtic.

The pair worked well together and the Celts rocketed from UnBond Division One North to the full Conference League before Sinnott was head-hunted by Port Vale.

Deacey proved he also had the Midas touch and had a good record at Throstle Nest when he took over from Sinnott, until Celtic went into administration.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then and they find themselves at different clubs in the same division.

Altrincham also have Damian Reeves, who is currently their leading scorer.

Reeves is well known to both managers and to the locals after spells with Farsley, Guiseley and Avenue.

Deacey joked: "I think Reevsie still lives around the Doncaster area so we are going to build a wall around it tomorrow night - either that or sneak in and let his tyres down.

"He has still got it has the lad - seven goals in as many games this season I think it is.

“I don’t think I have ever played against a team that Lee has managed so that is going to be an interesting one as well. It should be good though - we are all looking forward to it.”

The Avenue manager must be wishing he could go into the game with a full compliment of players as he had half a dozen out for last weekend’s clash with leaders Brackley Town.

It has been one in and one out in terms of the treatment room with Matty James recovering but James Knowles picking up a hamstring injury in the 1-0 defeat to Brackley.

That means Nathan Hotte, Adam Clayton, Jamie Jackson, Alex Davidson and Ross Daly will all be ruled out for the trip to Altrincham.

Deacey added: “Knowlesy will be out as well - another couple of weeks probably. It is frustrating because they would all have been starters and when you are playing a very good side the last thing you want is players missing.”

Avenue head to Cheshire in 11th place following their narrow and frustrating defeat to the top club, while Sinnott’s side are two places higher, just one point better off, as the table begins to take shape.