Bradford (Park Avenue) will look to follow up their first win of the season with another as they welcome AFC Telford United to the Horsfall Stadium.
Interim manager Marcus Law has overseen a change in fortune recently, as Avenue defeated Darlington at Blackwell Meadows to record their first three-point haul of the season.
The match also saw a second successive clean sheet, kept by a defence which had previously shipped 18 goals in the first five matches of the campaign.
That backline was particularly resistant to a late peppering by a Darlington onslaught that saw them hit the woodwork three times – including with a 97th minute penalty.
Goalkeeper Rhys Taylor, brought in by Law to add experience to a young defence, made a string of fine saves to keep Darlington at bay, most notably reacting phenomenally to beat away a header which looked to be destined for goal having cannoned off the inside of the post.
And it was 17-year-old Jaheim Headley – making the first appearance of his loan from Huddersfield Town – who grabbed the match-winner, finishing neatly on the end of Isaac Marriott’s excellent through ball.
Telford, meanwhile, have claimed just two points more than Avenue so far this season, a victory at Southport on Saturday followed up by defeat at home to Leamington.
Gavin Cowan’s side have gained just one further victory this term, against Kidderminster, and recently signed Crewe youngster Lewis Reilly on loan in an attempt to bolster their attacking options.
Bradford were defeated 2-1 in the last meeting between the sides in a rearranged fixture this March, the hosts will be looking to make sure a similar result is not matched this time around.
Recent League Form
Bradford (Park Avenue)
Darlington (A) W 01-0
Blyth (H) D 0-0
Alfreton (A) L 0-4
Gateshead (A) D 1-1
Kidderminster (H) L 0-3
AFC Telford United
Leamington (H) L 1-3
Southport (A) W 1-0
King’s Lynn (H) L 1-3
Hereford (A) L 0-1
Gateshead (H) D 0-0
Last Time Out
Bradford (Park Avenue): Taylor (c), Lund (Chidyausiku 46), Calder, Wood, Moran, Digbeu, Dockerty (Hedley 66), Marriott, Knight (Gibbons 74), Hurst, Headley
AFC Telford United: Addai, White, Morley, Royle, Sutton, Streete, Cowans, McQuilkin, Brown (Reilly 69), Williams (Dinanga 63), Lait (Knights 69)
Admission Prices
Adult – £10
Concession (OAP, Student) – £8
Under-17 – £1
Words: Joe Cockburn
Image: John Rhodes