Bradford Park Avenue have made an impressive start to life in Blue Square Bet North but face a big Bank Holiday weekend.

Avenue have taken four points from two tricky fixtures so far before heading for a couple of high-profile derbies in three days, making the short trip to Harrogate Town on Saturday and then hosting FC Halifax Town on Monday.

Yet manager John Deacey was relaxed in his assessment of the task ahead as he said: “I haven’t set any targets, that’s not my style.

“I could say we want another four points from these two games but you can’t predict results. You just have to go out, work your backside off and see what it brings.

“I look at it as two games of football and you want to win every game – but you know that’s not possible.”

The draw against Worcester City on the opening day and Tuesday’s 3-1 victory at Vauxhall Motors see Avenue going into Saturday’s game a heady sixth in the early table.

Harrogate have won one and lost one of their two fixtures – as have Halifax, who next host a Workington side with the same record.

Deacey’s task has been made more difficult by an early-season injury glut.

Three players – Danny Holland (knee), Jamie Jackson (hamstring) and Alex Davidson (toe) – all had to be substituted in the first game, when the squad was already missing Ross Daly (hip), Michael Duckworth (suspended) and skipper Rob O’Brien (thigh).

Holland returned to the side in midweek and scored but is still not fully fit.

Deacey said: “Danny recovered well and played but we took him off after about an hour because he was struggling by then.

“He has a chance of starting on Saturday but we have to be careful with two games in three days.

“Ross will definitely be out because he’s nowhere near and Jamie will be another two to three weeks with his hamstring.

“Michael is free from his suspension now, so he comes into the squad, and Rob has a good chance. But there is still a doubt over him, Alex and Adam Clayton , who we had to take off at half-time in the Vauxhall game.”

Deacey added: “We have to be wary of a backlash from both Harrogate and Halifax because they have both had surprise defeats in the opening week. We have to be ready for them.”