Bradford Park Avenue’s blank midweek cost them their place in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division play-off places but they could clamber back into the top five with a win at mid-table Worksop Town on Saturday.

Avenue dropped to sixth when Marine leapfrogged them with a victory on Tuesday night, although the silver lining was that second-placed Hednesford Town were the defeated team.

The promotion race is certainly hotting-up and Avenue are giving themselves every chance of reaching the end-of-season extras. Should they gain three points at Worksop, it would heap more pressure on their rivals.

Marine face a tough fixture at third-placed Northwich Victoria, while Hednesford – who are ten points better off than Avenue but have played three games more – have a daunting task at FC United.

A lack of goals has dogged Avenue this term but they hit three last week in their win over Nantwich Town and four in the preceding League Cup tie.

Tom Greaves has scored twice in two league starts since returning from a month’s loan at Division One North side Garforth Town but new signing Nicky Matthews has had no opportunity to open his account.

The striker recently signed from Thackley but missed a 6-1 friendly win at Tadcaster Albion last midweek through illness.

He did make a brief appearance from the bench in stoppage time against Nantwich. Avenue boss John Deacey then arranged another friendly for last Tuesday at Wayne Benn’s Hemsworth but that was dashed due to a waterlogged pitch, so Matthews has not had the chance to integrate into the side.

Deacey is hoping forward Aiden Savory can return from the injury which kept him on the sidelines last week and has left back Martin Drury available again following a two-game ban.

Meanwhile, Farsley AFC face a difficult trip to one of their Division One promotion rivals and it comes after a surprise home defeat last weekend.

Neil Parsley’s men slipped to a 1-0 loss to mid-table Warrington Town. The manager was critical of his players following that game and will be looking for a reaction from his squad at Lancaster City.

Farsley, who have no new injury concerns, remain in the play-off zone despite their defeat but will be aware that Lancaster are just two places and five points below them and have two games in hand.