Guiseley will be hoping their nearest neighbours Bradford Park Avenue can do them a favour this weekend as the Lions look to close the considerable gap on leaders Chester FC in Blue Square Bet North.

Steve Kittrick’s men are second as they head to lowly Bishop'sStortford on Saturday but they are a long way from the summit.

They are 15 points off the pace and, although they have three games in hand on Chester, they need the leaders to falter if they are to claw that back.

The Lions are very much the best of the rest as they have a nine-point cushion over their own nearest challengers.

That gap is in part down to them beating Avenue home and away over the holiday period.

Kittrick said: “They were tough games and we were fortunate in the first of them to get the win.

Park 'Ave' had a lot of players missing for the return game at their place but, as I said at the time, it proved what a good squad John (Bradford boss Deacey) has put together there that they took us close again.

“I thought we deserved to win that one but we needed those two second-half free-kicks to do it. I spoke to some of the Avenue players after the game and wished them well for the season because they are good players and the club can make the play-offs.”

Kittrick knows a full-strength Avenue will be capable of winning at Horsfall Stadium after they were the only side to take points from Chester this season.

However, he is concentrating on his own squad and side’s chances this weekend.

He added: “I hope I will be able to name the same squad because we had no fresh injuries at Park Ave. We have a couple of players out but nothing new so we should be all right for the Bishop's game.”

While Guiseley are looking to breach the 50-oint barrier in their 21st game of the season, the halfway point, Bishop'sStortford are languishing in 18th place,having harvested just 21 from their 18 starts so far.