Avenue hoping for a favour from Guiseley (From Wharfedale Observer)

Bradford Park Avenue hoping for a favour from Guiseley

5:00pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in Sport By Ian Whiting

Bradford Park Avenue will be hoping to build on last Monday’s excellent Blue Square Bet North home win when they take on Corby Town at Horsfall Stadium on Saturday (4pm).

The host club have put their kick-off time back an hour to help ease any traffic problems due to the Bradford Bulls’ Super League game against St Helens, which is set for a 2pm start at Odsal.

Avenue have also promised that Bulls fans who go to the St Helens game will get into Horsfall for half price.

The Bulls have responded by offering Avenue season-ticket holders entry to the St Helens game for £10.

Monday’s 2-0 victory over Vauxhall Motors, who had beaten second-placed Guiseley last Saturday, saw Avenue leapfrog the Motormen and move back up to tenth.

Corby are nine places lower, so it is another opportunity for the Bradford club to bank points that would lift them back into the promotion reckoning.

Avenue go into the weekend five points off the play-off places and hoping rivals Guiseley can get back to winning ways.

The Lions travel to Worcester City, who are seventh, just three points better off than Avenue.

Steve Kittrick’s Guiseley have hit a wall after months of matching runaway leaders Chester FC point for point.

A run of eight league victories on the trot came to an end with a 2-2 draw at Gloucester City and that was followed by the Lions’ 2-0 reverse at Vauxhall.

Guiseley opened up a two-goal lead at home to Colwyn Bay in midweek but again failed to take a maximum as the Welsh side battled back to draw.

That return of two points from the last nine has hit Guiseley’s title bid but Kittrick insists that his club can still win the league.

The Lions had an unfamiliar formation against Colwyn but that was dictated by injures to the squad.

Andy Holdsworth was dropped back into an attacking full-back role, with Mark Bower returning to the starting line-up for the first time since injury, while Kevin Holsgrove (knee) and Aaron Hardy (ankle) were both sidelined after picking up knocks in the defeat at Vauxhall.

Avenue’s squad is picking itself at the moment - so much so that Bradford boss John Deacey has allowed former club captain Rob O’Brien to go out on loan to Farsley.

The forward department was bolstered by the recent signing of Aiden Savory, and the former Avenue frontman made his second debut in the win over Vauxhall.