Park Avenue boss John Deacey has been impressed with Simon Lenighan since the Leeds United midfielder arrived on loan.
Deacey drafted him in before the FA Cup tie against Kidderminster Harriers and Lenighan’s Championship employers gave Bradford permission to play him, meaning he would be cup-tied when he returned to Elland Road.
Lenighan duly impressed on his debut in the tie that finished 1-1 but was only on the bench for the replay two days later and was again among the substitutes for last Saturday’s Conference North clash with Gloucester City.
Deacey said: “I thought Simon had a very good debut but it was a really tough game and he was very tired the following day.
“He hasn’t played too much football lately for Leeds and, although he is fit because of full-time training, it isn’t the same as playing a game as high in intensity as the Kidderminster game.
“I didn’t start him in the replay because I wanted to change things round a bit. I wanted to go with players who could run at their defence and cause them problems.
“Simon did come on towards the end in the replay and he played half an hour at the end of the Gloucester game.
“We had Richard Marshall sent off and I wanted to stiffen up the midfield as we only had ten men.
“I’m pleased with Simon. He is very comfortable on the ball, really composed in possession and a very intelligent footballer.”
Meanwhile, Avenue’s safety officer and race relations campaigner Shadow Parvez feels the club is fortunate to have Deacey and his assistant Mark Hume on board.
Parvez said: “I’m so proud of the team for the way they played against Kiddermin-ster in both games. They deserved to win the two matches but ended up getting beaten in extra-time of the replay.
“That was against a club like Kiddermister who are second in the Conference Premier and have full time players.
“I think John and Mark are doing a fantastic job but they are not getting the credit they deserve. I have been a scout for City and have been in football all my life and I think Avenue are playing like a well oiled machine at the moment.
“That is down to the manager, his assistant and the players they have assembled into a squad. I think anyone who came to see them play against Kidderminster will want to come back because the standard is that good week in week out.”
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