With Christmas just one week away, Bradford Park Avenue have had just one opportunity to bank points in the month of December.

The only Evo-Stik Premier Division fixture they have had that beat the weather so far – they are due to host Ashton United tomorrow - was last Saturday, and they made the most of it by gathering a maximum.

Avenue travelled to Burscough, one of their happy- hunting grounds, and came from two goals down to win 3-2.

It took an injury-time winner from on-loan Bantams striker Chib Chilaka but the outcome was the desired one.

Bradford boss John Deacey was delighted with the result but admitted his squad had made it hard for themselves.

He also pointed out that the cold and snowy period had not done his club any favours.

Deacey said: “It was a great result and a hard-earned win but not the best of performances from our lads.

"For the first 20 minutes, we were very poor and went two goals behind but we took control after that.

“I have said it so many times but it has been a funny start for me because of the worst December on record for decades.

"We want to get into a pattern and build a bit of momentum but we can’t because it’s so hard when the games are coming along here and there.”

Deacey is trying to settle in for his latest stint in the hot seat and, after a month in charge, is still to sit in the home dugout at Horsfall Stadium.

He has been juggling re-arranged training sessions, interspersed with postponements, while trying to formulate a squad by keeping existing players and adding his own signings.

“It has been a nightmare but you get on with it because you have to play all these games at some point,” added Deacey.

“We arranged a full-scale reserves versus first team game on Wednesday night just to get the players some match fitness.

"We can’t find facilities to suit a proper training session because indoor or third-generation artificial pitches are not the same as a full-size grass pitch.

“But our lads are solid gold and they know when we haven’t trained properly that if their fitness is suffering they will do a bit extra on their own.”