BELEAGUERED Bradford Park Avenue were denied another home fixture last night when the visit of Chorley was lost to a combination of the weather and the Horsfall pitch.

Avenue are battling to beat the drop from the Vanarama Conference North, or would be if they could get out onto the field.

Their scheduled opponents last night were high-flying Chorley and John Deacey’s men were relishing their visit after narrowly losing out 2-1 at the Magpies’ home on Boxing Day.

The run-in to this season, which will be crucial to the Bradford club as they look to retain their status, promises to be a hectic one with a mounting backlog of fixtures.

The postponement denied new signing Danny Barlow from making his debut. The midfielder has been in training with the squad for a while and his registration came through in time to be considered for last night’s squad.

Barlow began his career at Huddersfield Town and has had a spell at neighbours Farsley but he spent last season playing in Australia with Darwen Olympic.

Barlow said. “When I got back I wanted to get back playing in this league and when the club invited me down to train I loved it. The sessions that Dru and Pricey put on are brilliant and the lads are a top bunch, which always helps when joining a new club.

“I’m delighted to have signed and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of helping the club stay up where it belongs. I’m a holding midfield player who likes to get on the ball and bring other players into the game.

“Australia was brilliant. I had the chance to go there for a season to play for Darwin Olympic and ended up winning the league and cup double.”

Elsewhere last night, ALBION SPORTS were also left frustrated when their Toolstation Northern Counties East League Cup tie was also postponed. Kulwinder Sandhu’s men were due to host Staveley MW with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.