Bradford Park Avenue are clinging on to the coat-tails of Altrincham and still have a faint hope of securing a Blue Square Bet North play-off place.

Horsfall boss John Deacey has been delighted with the effort of his players and insists it will have been a positive campaign whatever the outcome over the next week.

They have competed with local rivals FC Halifax Town and Harrogate Town, and even former Avenue manager Lee Sinnott’s Altrincham in recent weeks.

Deacey said: “The players have been absolutely outstanding. We haven’t had a settled side and the run-in has been hectic – but it’s a squad game and the lads who have come in have been terrific.

“Last Saturday against Droylsden, we had Mark Hume (assistant manager) on the bench, and on Monday against Altrincham we had just 12 fit players, but the results have kept coming. It has been a fantastic run and has taken our season into the final week.”

Avenue brushed aside struggling Droylsden 5-0 before earning a 2-2 draw against Sinnott’s men just two days later.

In a match Avenue press officer Lewis Sale described as “a good advert for non-league football”, Deacey’s side showed why they are still in the hunt.

Deacey said: “I thought we deserved the win against Lee’s side because the second-half performance was tremendous.

“In the game against Droylsden, we had players coming in who hadn’t played for a game or two and had to make changes during the match because of injuries but still had five different scorers.

“The players just keep stepping up to the mark. They have shown a lot of skill, because we have continued to play the game how I believe it should be played, but they have also shown determination, spirit and togetherness.

“I could go through the whole squad and mention everyone by name. They have kept the season going into the final week and put a club that is new to Conference League football in with a chance of back-to-back promotions, so I can’t speak highly enough about them.

“You only need to look at their faces and there is a story there. Lamby (keeper John Lamb) came out of semi-retirement midway through the season because Tim Deasy got a bad injury.

"Nathan (Hotte) has stepped up to become an inspirational captain after Knowlesy (James Knowles) left us just before the transfer deadline.

“Paul Walker is in his first season with us but has been almost ever-present, Jordan (Deacey) has had some outstanding games and remained focused when he has been having trials here and there with Football League clubs, and Scooby (Richard Marshall) has scored some stunning goals.

“I could literally name each and every one of them, and we will be thanking them all when the season ends, but for now we have to keep our heads down because I don’t think it’s over just yet.

"Our chance hasn’t passed us by because there are nine points still to play for.”