Bradford Park Avenue will need to get back to winning ways in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division when they host Nantwich Town on Saturday if they want to maintain their promotion push.

Avenue are just outside the play-off zone at the moment, while their visitors are currently eighth and also on the fringes of the play-off frame.

The Bradford club were denied a fixture last week because of the severe drop in temperature but they lost no ground in the race for the play-off places as none of the top eight clubs picked up a maximum.

Those circumstances give Avenue breathing space, only they cannot contemplate a home defeat on Saturday.

Avenue should have a new striker in their ranks after signing Nicky Matthews from neighbouring baris Northern Counties East League club Thackley last week.

Bradford boss John Deacey said: “We have been watching Matthews for the last four weeks and he looks a prospect.

“It is a big step up but he is a tall, strong lad who definitely knows where the net is.

"He should be a good addition to our squad and if he takes to the Evo-Stik League as well as Ross (Daly, Avenue’s last acquisition from Thackley) then we will have some player.”

Deacey has been searching for a solution to Avenue’s lack of firepower for months.

He signed Dempsey Smith from Garforth Town and allowed Tom Greaves to go in the opposite direction for a month’s loan. Curtis Bernard also arrived at Horsfall Stadium.

Greaves is now back and scored on his return, earning Avenue a point from their trip to promotion rivals Hednesford Town.

Smith is currently on loan at Thackley, while Matthews has been settling into his new surroundings this week.

In Division One North, Farsley AFC are slightly better placed for their tilt at promotion.

Neil Parsley’s men are third and will be looking for the home win over Warrington Town on Saturday that would see them through the 50-point mark.

The Cheshire outfit are ten places behind their hosts and have lost as many as they have won in their 23 starts this term.

Even that hoped-for victory would not see Farsley improve their league standing as they trail joint leaders AFC Fylde and Curzon Ashton by four points. Farsley were also sidelined because of the cold snap last week, so have no fresh injury concerns.