ALBION Sports have endured a disastrous season so far, but Tuesday night could end up being the turning point.
Stuck in the drop zone and only just back at Myra Shay after weeks away due to pitch damage, things were looking bleak for a talented, but under-performing squad.
But they showed just how good they can be in midweek, as they travelled to mid-table Pickering Town and came away with a 3-0 victory.
The Bradford side are now only inside the relegation zone on goal difference, and they will not remain there for long if they continue to play how they did on Tuesday night.
They took an early lead at Pickering, Mo Qasim slotting them in front with just six minutes on the clock.
And they doubled their advantage just after the half-hour mark courtesy of Nathan Cartman.
Albion keeper Lewis Hill produced a brilliant save at the start of the second half, crucially avoiding a momentum swing mid-match.
Instead, visiting skipper Aran Basi nodded home Talent Ndlovu’s corner to make it 3-0 on 61 minutes.
Albion were rampant thereafter, Qasim forcing the opposition keeper into a top save, while Cartman hit the post moments later.
A stunning last-ditch challenge stopped Cartman from putting Albion further ahead with just over 15 minutes left, but the damage had already been done to Pickering.
Leaders Liversedge were due to play at Sheffield on Tuesday night too, but the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Campion did defy the awful weather conditions to get their home game on against Golcar United last night.
Both sides toiled in the pouring rain and the game ultimately finished goalless, but it was not without chances.
Campion were on top in the first half, the Bradford side seeing two goals ruled out in the opening 30 minutes, one for offside and the other for a push.
Paddy Sykes then blazed a great chance for the Red and Blacks over the bar, before the hosts had a third goal disallowed on the stroke of half-time.
But Golcar were much improved after the break, Luke Wilson having to make one excellent save to keep out Ryan Wadsworth.
Jerome Bedeau missed a sitter just after the hour mark for the visitors, who then had Daniel Naidole sin-binned for dissent.
Wadsworth clipped the bar with a free-kick for the temporary 10-men just before Naidole’s return.
With 10 minutes left, Campion got back on top and had two great chances to win the game.
But Hugo Bennett held his nerve to deny Ewan Gregson one-on-one, then Golcar’s Jack Steele brilliantly cleared a shot off his own line.
Ultimately, the draw keeps Campion in the promotion hunt, just three points off the play-off spots.
Newly-promoted Silsden are just trying to avoid relegation from the Northern Premier League East Division.
The Cobbydalers currently sit three points clear of danger, but they suffered a bruising 4-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Consett on Tuesday night.
