BRADFORD Park Avenue will be buoyant as they go into another crucial home game in Vanarama National League North against Corby on Saturday.

Boss Martin Drury demanded a reaction from his players after a five-game winless run in which his team dropped back into the relegation mix and made a humiliating exit from the FA Trophy at Nantwich.

The manager got exactly the response he wanted as Avenue bounced back to bank a vital three points from a 1-0 win at Gainsborough Trinity last Saturday, and followed that by inflicting the first defeat on neighbours FC Halifax Town since the experienced Jim Harvey was installed as the Shaymen’s manager.

Avenue edged a tight and entertaining West Riding County Cup quarter-final tie on penalties on Wednesday night after a 3-3 stalemate.

The lottery of the shootout was only necessary after Danny Hattersley had scored his second of the night for the Shaymen two minutes into the three minutes of time added-on.

It remained tense, with Avenue only winning the shoot-out 5-4 in sudden death after both sides had taken eight penalties.

The nerves will have calmed down before Corby Town head to Horsfall Stadium but the adrenaline will still be flowing.

Avenue are only four points better off than the Steelmen, who are in the relegation zone but the stats separating the clubs are stacked in Avenue’s favour.

They have lost fewer league games than any club outside the top seven, while Corby have lost almost twice as many.

Avenue’s last league game was that win at mid-table Gainsborough, while Corby’s last run-out ended in a defeat at home to the same opposition.

The biggest plus for Drury’s side is that they have games in hand on most of the clubs in the division.