Crucial test of Avenue's promotion hopes

Fourth placed Avenue trail the Manchester club by just three points after last Saturday's victory at Eastwood Town while Borough were held to a home draw by Chorley.

"If we win this one we will be back to joint third," said Storton. "Then it is all down to us again, we will have a fighting chance. It is a tough game but we are looking forward to it.

"Radcliffe still have the top two, Witton and Burscough, to play twice yet so somewhere along the line all the teams above us are going to drop points."

Storton adds 14 goal striker Phil Denney to his squad after he missed the Eastwood match with a chest infection.

Guiseley have struggled to find form in the league this term but their problems will be left at home when they travel to Liverpool to face Marine in the third round of the FA Umbro Trophy.

The Nethermoor outfit are in the lower third of the UniBond Premier Division while the Merseysiders went top last Saturday.

In the Northern Counties East Premier Division Eccleshill United could have influential skipper Darren Hamer back from a long term knee injury when they take on title favourites North Ferriby United at Plumpton Park.

The big defender played for the reserves at Thackley last night in his fourth comeback game.

Thackley journey to leaders Brigg Town without midfield man Stuart Burgess, who also had a run out in the reserve fixture but did not prove his fitness.

Third placed Liversedge beat Brigg 3-1 last week and will be looking for another three point maximum when they visit Armthorpe Welfare. Keeper John Oldfield continues to deputise for flu victim Richard Bibby but midfielder Andy Kenton returns from suspension.

Farsley Celtic face tomorrow's visitors Matlock Town without suspended centre back Lee Connor.

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