Bradford Park Avenue boss John Deacey finally had the first home game of his current spell in charge last Monday night – but feels Saturday’s match at Horsfall will be more special.

Avenue lost to neighbours FC Halifax Town in a third-round League Cup tie this week as they ended a 72-day period without a home game due to the cold weather.

But Saturday’s visit of Colwyn Bay in the Evo-Stik Premier Division will be their first league encounter on their own patch since Deacey returned for a third stint at the helm.

He said: “We are all looking forward to it because, as good as it was getting a home game in midweek, it will be better playing a league game.

“We have not been at home on a Saturday afternoon since October and that was before I came back.

“I think it will be a tough game but Bay have been a little bit up and down.

“After beating leaders Halifax, they lost to Ashton United, so we will have to see which Colwyn turn up.”

The Bradford club dropped down to 12th in the table following last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at FC United of Manchester.

That was the first loss of Deacey’s reign and Saturday's second-placed visitors from Wales will be another difficult test.

But if Avenue are to rekindle their play-off hopes they will be looking to take maximum points against a team who are nine points in front but have played three more games.

It may be mid-January but Avenue are only just at the halfway point of their season and that stat gives Deacey hope there is enough time for him to steer the club to their goal.

He said: “We were very unlucky at FC United. I lost count of the one-on-ones we forced and then they get two goals in the last seven minutes to nick all three points.

“The eight points we took from the four away games before last Saturday put us in a good position but we slipped back a bit.

“It was hugely disappointing but not a disaster because there is a lot of football still to play.

“I have brought Matty Plummer in from Halifax and we have got Matty James back from Guiseley. Both are permanent signings, James is back for good.

“He played right back in his first game back but up-front is his position and he played really well against Halifax last Monday.

“At the moment we have 16 or 17 players that I consider to be the nucleus of our first team. I’m virtually playing with a full pack as well because they are all fit and we have no suspensions.”

  • Bradford Park Avenue reserves visit Thackley reserves in the Bradford & District FA Saturday Senior Cup (2pm) quarter-final this weekend.