BRADFORD Park Avenue face a must-win game, or at least a cannot lose game, as two of the Vanarama Conference North strugglers clash at Horsfall Stadium on Saturday.

Avenue improved their precarious position with a confidence-boosting victory in their last league game but dropped closer to the relegation zone when they were involved in FA Trophy action last weekend.

John Deacey led his side to a 2-0 win at Harrogate Town last time out in the league, and they followed that up by reaching the semi-finals of the West Riding County Cup with a 5-1 victory over Farsley.

However, last weekend was frustrating as their FA Trophy first-round tie against Kidderminster Harriers was postponed on Saturday after a chilling drop in temperatures the previous evening and hastily re-arranged for Monday.

Bradford were soundly beaten 4-1 then, and that will have dented their confidence as they host Gloucester City – the club immediately below them – at the weekend.

In the absence of league action, Avenue dropped to fourth bottom after Brackley Town leapt up the table following a 2-1 win at Leamington.

With three clubs relegated from Conference North, Avenue are desperate to pull away from their current placing.

The Tigers, meanwhile, know this is a good time to strike as they would claw themselves above their hosts with a win in the match that marks the halfway point of the season for both clubs.

They have a remarkably similar record in the first half of what has been a disappointing season. Both clubs have lost half of their 20 starts in the league and both have scored 27 goals.

Avenue have the edge going into the clash by virtue of having won one more game than their visitors but they have conceded one more goal than the Tigers, so have a marginally worse goal difference.

Avenue’s win at Harrogate ended a six-game losing run in league games but their confidence will have been dented by the Kidderminster defeat.

Bradford’s last win in Conference North prior to Harrogate was by 2-1 at home to table-topping Barrow.

However, Gloucester are only on Avenue’s tails because they pulled off a shock 2-0 win at Barrow last weekend, but that ended a sequence of four straight defeats.

Avenue, who have no fresh injury concerns, will be buoyed by the fact that they could jump up to 15th with a win if other results went their way.