Park Avenue face tough test as they visit leaders Barrow

The Bluebirds have American backing and have had a superb campaign so far. They go into the final furlong in pole position to claim the automatic promotion place.

Barrow, who have lost just once this season, are two points clear and have a game in hand on second-placed AFC Fylde. Avenue's good form is impressive with just one defeat in the last ten matches as they have hauled themselves away from the relegation zone.

Hyde are already doomed to relegation but there are still two places to be filled and manager John Deacey is anxious that his side do not get drawn back into the dogfight.

Deacey acknowledges that getting anything at Holker Street will be a bonus and insists that their main focus should be on the games they have left against the teams below them.

The fixtures, which were totally restructured after the wet winter and ongoing problems with the playing surface at Horsfall Stadium, are presenting Deacey and his squad with a variety of tests.

Last week saw them travelling to promotion-chasing Oxford City and then hosting lowly Gloucester City, two days later.

This week they will follow the clash with the Bluebirds with a home clash against fellow strugglers Gainsborough Trinity on Monday. That is followed by an Easter weekend in which Avenue visit second-placed Fylde before visiting doomed Hyde two days later.

Deacey said: “From the two games last week I would have settled for four points so I’m happy. But taking three points off Oxford doesn’t help us as much as it would have if we had taken three off Gloucester.

“It’s going to be like that for the next few weeks but as long as we’re unbeaten we have a chance. I keep saying it but as it stands it is only a chance we have given ourselves.”

Avenue will always be in with the chance of winning any game as long as Chib Chilaka stays in the rich vein of form he has discovered. The former Bantam has netted a goal a game in his last four appearances.