Oxford City 1, Bradford Park Avenue 2

TONIGHT could see Bradford Park Avenue crush the spirit of one of the relegation-threatened sides in Vanarama Conference North and all but guarantee their own safety at the same time.

Avenue came from a goal down to beat promotion-chasing Oxford City on Saturday in what was their fourth victory on the spin.

Now they host Gloucester City, whose 2-1 defeat at second-bottom Stalybridge Celtic at the weekend was their fourth loss on the trot.

With the Tigers on the slide and now in the drop zone themselves, an Avenue win would lift them 11 points clear with games fast running out.

John Deacey's side beat Oxford thanks to a first league goal from Craig King before Richard Marshall hit the winner.

With so many important games, Deacey has been rotating his squad and Chib Chilaka was taken out of the firing line at the weekend, so he will probably be called back in for the visit of Gloucester.

Oxford top scorer Adi Yussuf got behind the Avenue defence early on but keeper John Danby came to his side's rescue.

But minutes later, following a set-piece that Avenue failed to clear effectively, centre back Adriano Santiago did edge Oxford in front when turning the ball home from close range.

It took Avenue just six minutes to restore parity thanks to King's strike. The home keeper flapped at an Alex Pursehouse cross and the ball dropped for King, who volleyed home superbly.

The goal led to a good spell from Avenue, although Danby still had saves to make before the interval. The Bradford stopper did well to deal with a free-kick that deviated after hitting the wall and a Yussuf shot that also took a deflection and looped up towards the net.

The hosts came out with a purpose after the break but Avenue could have scored from their first foray. They forced a free-kick and Ryan Qualter headed it on for Paul Walker but his shot from five yards lacked power and direction and was easy for the home keeper to collect.

But the winner came ten minutes into the second half when a half-cleared corner was recycled by King, with Qualter again helping it on its way and Marshall being on hand to slot the ball in.