Bradford Park Avenue head to Stockport County tomorrow needing to win the clash of former Football League clubs to reignite their push for a play-off finish.

Both sides are struggling in the Conference North at the moment but Bradford assistant boss Mark Hume maintains his side are not far away from getting it right.

Avenue were up among the play-off contenders but a run of three straight league defeats has seen them drop out of the top ten following Saturday’s defeat at Histon.

The main problem has been finding the back of the net, something which they have failed to do in their last four games.

Hume said: “We have been struggling but not just with the forwards.

“We have had so many injuries and suspensions that people have been moving about, playing out of position most of the time.

“James Knowles is suspended today so we’re hoping Adam Clayton is ready to play 90 minutes.

“Adam has been out with an injury so is just on his comeback.

“Our lads know the run we’ve been on is not good enough but, apart from the two games against Guiseley, which were unacceptable, the performances haven’t been bad and we’ve only just lost.

“Even at Hednesford, when they went top of the league by beating us, we matched them for most of the game but they got a second late on, so we are not far away.”

Having signed striker Paul Beesley last week, Avenue are hoping to end their goal drought.

Beesley joined from neighbours and divisional rivals Harrogate Town and made his Avenue debut in Saturday’s defeat.

Hume said: “It was a difficult deal getting Paul in as we made an agreement with his club but he wasn’t actually playing for them.

“He was at another club on dual registration (Harrogate Railway), so it was hard work getting him in but we pushed for it because we knew he would give us options up front.”

Stockport, whose facilities at Edgeley Park are still League standard, are fifth from bottom, just three points above the drop zone.

The sides meet again at Horsfall Stadium in the return fixture on New Year’s Day.