Skipper Dean Jones has appealed to his players to keep believing in themselves after last week's disappointing defeat at Gateshead stretched Avenue's run without a UniBond Premier Division victoryn to nine games.

It's a worrying siutation because the team has now lost four league games on the bounce, although the sending off of midfielder Damien Dunne last week didn't help the cause.

Now tomorrow's game at home to Matlock is vital because the club are in danger of being sucked into a desperate relegation battle.

Matlock defeated faltering Burscough last week and will arrive at Horsfall determined to complete a double - after winning the home fixture 1-0 earlier in the season.

The kick-off is at 1pm because of Avenue's continuing floodlight problems. If Matlock hadn't agreed to the switch, the match would have been postponed or Avenue would have had to search for an alternative ground to host the fixture.

While Avenue continue to struggle, the teams at the top are picking up points - the three leading clubs all won their games.

Jones said: "We don't seem to be getting any luck at the moment. But we have to keep believing in ourselves and keep going.

"The spirit is still good between the lads. We are not getting down about the run - I don't think you can afford to do that.

"We murdered Gateshead in the first half last week and the same happened up there in the Trophy when we lost 4-3. There must be a hoodoo on that ground.

"I think the manager has got to keep the side as settled as he can, bearing in mind injuries and so on. One of the things we have been missing all season is continuity. I'd like to know how many times he has put the same side out."

Brook recently signed central defender Jason Wray on loan from Harrogate Town and he has partnered Jones in central defence in the last two game - the President's Cup win at Ashton and at Gateshead last week.

But Brook also tried to sign Guiseley centre half Lee Connor, who chose to go to leaders North Ferriby instead.

"All I can do is keep trying my best," said Jones, who was recently sidelined while Brook tried other options. Tomorrow Avenue must do without last week's man-of-the-match Dean Calcutt, who pulled up in the second half with a hamstring injury. He could be out for three weeks.

Avenue (from): Thompson, O'Brien, Agus, Smith, Wray, Jones, Dunne, Bernard, Greaves, Flynn, Newton, Oleksewycz, Challender, Walsh.