Avenue boss Phil Sharpe is hoping reinforcements arrive in time for tomorrow's testing trip to Buxton as he looks for his squad to bounce back from Monday's frustrating defeat.

Former Bradford City boss Nicky Law has brought Buxton up to UniBond Division One and the prosperous club are tipped as one of the favourites for the title.

Avenue are keeping pace with them but have played two games more.

Sharpe said: "This game's massive for us now. It was always going to be a big one but, after losing in midweek, it is vital we get a result to add to our points and prevent Buxton getting all three.

"They have a good ground, a big following and it should be a close game. That's just the type of occasion you want to be involved in as a player if you have anything about you.

"To go into it on the back of a defeat is not ideal but it will be a test of character for our players.

"Fortunately some of the others in the chasing pack were also beaten, so we didn't lose too much ground."

With Andy Shuttleworth facing a long time on the sidelines and Andy Lee now departed, after heading back to Australia, the squad is stretched to breaking point. Sharpe, though, has some irons in the fire.

"I am hoping to sign a forward, I have had a midfielder asking to come to training and another striker has put some feelers out about coming back to the club and they are people who will improve our squad.

"I'm not sure anything will happen in time for the Buxton game but things are moving behind the scenes. We are quite happy to go into this game with what we have at the moment. Anyone who saw the game on Monday will realise that we were unfortunate."

Bradford PA (from): Skiba, Jefferies, Robinson, Grayston, Chattoe, Connor, Shaw, Cooke, Redfearn, Morris, Ross, Flynn, Greaves, Tuck, Gill.