BRADFORD Park Avenue and Guiseley are both looking to bounce back from heavy defeats in their respective leagues but both face tough games tonight.

Avenue lost 5-0 at home to York City in Vanarama National League North at Horsfall Stadium on Saturday.

While the Minstermen were in Sky Bet League Two just two seasons ago, and are title favourites this term, tonight’s opponents Spennymoor Town are newcomers after gaining promotion from the Evo-Stik League.

The Moors have rocketed back up the leagues and are looking likely promotion contenders again after a superb start.

They opened their season with a home victory over Stockport County and followed that with a win at FC United of Manchester last Tuesday.

Both victories came courtesy of the odd goal and they are the only two fixtures Spenny have played after Saturday’s debacle.

They were due to play Boston United but their team bus broke down on the A1, they were two hours away from the Pilgrims’ ground at the time and were already running late because of heavy traffic.

Boston kindly offered to send their bus to collect the stranded team but the match referee took everything into consideration before taking the decision to postpone the game.

Following their 5-0 drubbing, Avenue boss Mark Bower said: “We go into Tuesday now a little bit into the unknown at promoted Spennymoor.

“I was a bit unsure about facing them before, but after we were so bad against York all I’m concerned about now is us.

"If we play that badly and show the same weaknesses against anybody, we’ll get beaten.

“We have to concentrate on our own performance and get the basics right. If we do that, I’m sure we can compete with any team in this division.”

Bower drafted in Mark Ross just ahead of Saturday’s home game and the defender made his Avenue debut as a second-half substitute.

He was a free agent after leaving Stockport County, where he was captain last season, playing 41 games as the Hatters chased promotion, and he also had a long spell at Chorley.

Ross replaced right back Javan Vidal at the break with Avenue already 4-0 down, so it was a tough introduction.

Bower said: “Mark has the experience at this level and above and we’re delighted to get him. Jav (Vidal) starts his three-game ban, and with Shane (Killock) still recovering from injury we needed to strengthen that area.

“Mark can play either right back or centre back, so he’s an excellent addition to the squad and he’ll get a lot of game-time this season.

"It wasn’t the best of circumstances for him to make his debut but I thought he did well on Saturday.”

After a 6-0 thumping at Aldershot Town in the Vanarama National League, Guiseley host Tranmere Rovers tonight.

The Rovers were also beaten at the weekend, so both sides will be wounded.

Guiseley boss Adam Lockwood is looking for a reaction from his players and insists that there cannot be a recurrence of what happened at the weekend.

He said: “We need to bounce back from setbacks - that’s life. You have to deal with those things. Don’t feel sorry for yourself and get yourself up. The games come quick and fast and you have to bounce back.

“We have to do what we believe in, prepare right and make sure it does not happen again.”

The Lions began well with a hard-earned home draw on the first day of the season but they have slipped to consecutive defeats since.

Tranmere have been inconsistent as they also opened with a draw but won their second game before Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to last season’s FA Cup heroes Sutton United.