A good result in midweek gave Avenue a point away from home which helped to put last Saturday's disappointing 3-1 defeat at home to Eastwood Town firmly behind them.

The Bradford side would have topped the UniBond Division One table with a win last week.

However, a positive result at Horsfall Stadium tomorrow over newly-promoted Cammell Laird will keep Avenue in the leading pack.

Avenue boss Phil Sharpe was more pleased with the performance at Bamber Bridge on Tuesday than the point from the 1-1 draw.

Neil Ross got the goal on his return from a three-match ban but Avenue had to do without the injured Neil Redfearn.

Sharpe said: "We were disappointed not to get all three points because of the way we started. The penalty they scored in time added on at the end of the first half was their only shot on goal at that point.

"They came out and put us under a bit of pressure in the second half because they were at home and thought they should go for it.

"If we had taken the game to them a bit more we could have been far enough in the lead to have left them with no hope of getting back into it.

"If I am being a bit hard on the players then I make no excuses. We all have to be hard on each other if we want to reach our full potential."

Tomorrow's visitors could provide an even sterner test than Eastwood Town.

Laird are a side very much on the up having enjoyed success promotions in the North West Counties League - their first being with Silsden the season before last.

Sharpe is under no illusions that his side face a tough task.

"The game is sure to be a very difficult contest. Cammell Laird are a very established side who have enjoyed a few years of success.

"They are one of the favourites for the league title and are worthy of that.

"We knew they would be up there in the leading group, like Buxton, Eastwood Town and Clitheroe. I feel as though we should be challenging along with those clubs and I don't see why we should drop away."

Despite last week's defeat, the Avenue chief is satisfied with his side's start, especially as he had to do without a number of important players.

"I'm pleased with the start we have had. We are fourth and were in touching distance of the top of the table. We have done that despite having key players missing from almost every game.

"Both centre backs Gary Shaw and club captain Lee Connor have missed at least two games each. Neil Ross has sat out a three-game ban and Andy Shuttleworth has been in and out with the same niggling injury.

"Neil Redfearn has also missed games and had to play out of position because of the other players being out."

Redfearn is back in the squad after picking up an ankle injury in the Avenue v City old boys' charity game last Sunday.

Avenue (from): Skiba, Jeffery, Robinson, Grayston, Chattoe, Connor, Redfearn, Cooke, Illingworth, Morris, Greaves, Flynn, Shuttleworth, Tuck, Kamara, Ross.

  • Avenue reserves won 3-2 at Goole in the Lancashire League with goals from Rob Malone, Paul Helliwell and Luke Caulfield. The under-19s also won 3-1 at Fields with a hat-trick from Dave Pemberton.