Avenue head to the Jakemans Stadium on Saturday in search of their first away win since December 2017. Adam Boyes, Nicky Clee and Lee Knight all weighed in with goals as Mark Bower’s side swept Southport aside two days before Christmas, but only three points have been chalked up on the road since that win.

Boston held Spennymoor Town to a 0-0 draw at Harrogate Towns CNG Stadium on Tuesday night, days after securing an impressive away win at Darlington thanks to goals from Ashley Hemmings and on-loan Guiseley forward Reece Thompson.

The Pilgrims lie 12^th in the table, one point adrift of Avenue with one game in-hand. Avenue did, however, come out on top in the last meeting between the sides. Boston took the lead at the Horsfall Stadium back in September, but Mark Ross drew level before Adam Boyes clinched the three points with a second-half winner.

Saturday’s opponents have overseen a managerial switch since their last meeting with Avenue, replacing Adam Murray with Craig Elliott.

The game may also see Avenue fans greeted by some familiar faces in the Boston squad. Experienced goalkeeper Jon Stewart represented Avenue during the 2015-16 season and joined the Pilgrims in January to provide competition for first-choice stopper George Willis, a one-time Avenue loanee. Centre-back Ryan Qualter is another to have turned out at the Horsfall Stadium and was also reunited with former Shaw Lane boss Elliott in January.

GUIDE TO OUR OPPONENTS:

 THE GAFFER: Craig Elliott

Elliott took charge of the Pilgrims in November 2017, gaining the attention of the Boston board after guiding Shaw Lane to three promotions in four seasons. He also managed Ossett Town and Glasshoughton Welfare before taking over at the Jakemans Stadium.

KEY PLAYERS:

Stephen Brogan

 Versatile 29-year old Brogan joined the Pilgrims in December having left National League North strugglers North Ferriby United. He brings a wealth of experience to Boston’s side, having played regularly in the Football League for Rotherham United before dropping into non-league. A left-sided player who is comfortable in both defence and midfield, he began his career with the Millers and attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur due to his impressive displays in the 2007-08 season. However, a double leg fracture in 2008 halted his progress. Brogan spent time on loan with Stalybridge Celtic in 2011 and proved to be a hit with fans but couldn’t earn a new deal with the Millers and was eventually released. He eventually joined Celtic on a permanent deal after struggling to settle at Alfreton Town, who he joined following his Rotherham release. Brogan went on to play alongside current Avenue boss Mark Bower at Guiseley, where he also teamed with former Lions Steven Drench, Danny Boshell and Wayne Brooksby. His stint at Nethermoor was short-lived, as it wasn’t long before Forest Green Rovers of non-league football’s highest tier swooped. During his time with Rovers, he earned a call-up to the England C squad and picked up two caps. After leaving Forest Green in 2014, he went on to represent Southport, Gainsborough Trinity and North Ferriby as well as enjoying a third spell at Stalybridge.

Ashley Hemmings

 27-year-old winger Ashley Hemmings linked up with the Boston squad in June 2017 after leaving Mansfield Town. A tricky player with an eye for goal, he represented England under-17s whilst in the youth ranks of Wolverhampton Wanderers and enjoyed loan spells with Cheltenham Town, Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle. He made fifty-six appearances in two years at Walsall after departing Molineux, making five appearances on loan at Burton Albion during that time. Hemmings then made eighty appearances for Dagenham & Redbridge during a two-year spell between 2014 and 2016, earning a move to League Two side Mansfield Town where he spent one season. Since arriving at the Jakemans Stadium, he has scored fifteen goals in forty-four outings.

Reece Thompson

 Boston completed somewhat of a coup when they convinced striker Reece Thompson to join the Pilgrims on loan. The dangerous forward was North Ferriby United’s top-scorer in their 2016-17 National League campaign, earning a move to Guiseley in the summer of 2017. He struggled to break into the Lions’ first-team but has found his feet at the Jakemans Stadium. The former Frickley Athletic and York City forward has found the back of the net on nine occasions since arriving and netted in their recent 2-1 win over Darlington at Blackwell Meadows.

Following the postponed game against Brackley Town on Saturday 3rd March. Both clubs have agreed for the game to be rearranged for Tuesday 17th April 2018 with a 19:45 kick off.

The Club will be running a coach to the game leaving The Horsfall Stadium at 14:15 and Ceder Court at 14:30. If you would like to book a seat please see Neil Fawcett at the Supporters Information Desk on match day or call him on 07811959003.

Mark Bower has recalled Lee Knight from his loan deal at Halesowen Town. With current injuries and Oli Johnson’s suspension Lee will offer some much needed cover up front for the remainder of the season.

Confidence in football is massive and it is clear at the moment that we are struggling on that front. Earlier in the season when we were playing well and winning games, you could see the players playing on the front foot, anticipating things and taking risks going forward. Recently we’ve been a bit more hesitant and maybe over thinking things and this has led to us becoming disjointed and not as fluent as we were. It is certainly not for a lack of effort as it may look at times from the terraces, we have a great dressing room full of lads that are desperate to do well and work hard for each other. It is our job as a management team to re install that confidence and belief and remind the players that only a month ago we were matching Salford away from home who look set to win the league. We have to find a way with the limited numbers we have to get back to winning games and the players need to draw on their experience to help them get through this period.

We’re having to contend with a few injuries at the moment. This league is the strongest it has ever been, so for us to be missing Rob Atkinson, Adam Nowakowski, Nicky Clee, Javan Vidal, Oli Johnson and effectively Adam Boyes is making it tough for us. The loss of six important players would effect even the likes of Salford and Harrogate with their sizeable budgets, so it’s obviously going to impact us. We’re having to patch others up also to get them on the pitch and it is so frustrating that we have gone through most of the season without too many injuries to then be hit with numerous within a week of the transfer deadline passing and leaving us with few options.

On Saturday we face Leamington who have had a good season so far after they were written off by many at the start of the season. Paul Holleran is an experienced manager and has done fantastically well to get them promoted last season and competing well this season. They beat us in the away fixture earlier in the season and we know what they’re all about. It will be another tough game, but we must concentrate on ourselves and our performance first and foremost to give ourselves a chance of winning the game.

Mark

Gaffers Review Stockport County & Chorley FC

It has been a disappointing Easter for us with two defeats against sides chasing a play-off place in Stockport and Chorley. In both games we were guilty of conceding poor goals and having to chase games. Against Stockport we responded well in the second half to get back on level terms, so then to concede in the fourth minute of injury time was a real sickener. Against Chorley the first goal was always going to be vital against a team who do not score too many goals but concede fewer. We had a great chance mid-way through the first half to take the lead and had that gone in things may have been different, but we then conceded on the stroke of half time and in truth we found it very difficult in the second half.

Finally I must thank the Avenue fans who dug themselves out on Monday morning and travelled through horrendous weather conditions on the M62 to support the players at Chorley. I am sorry that we were unable to put on a performance to reward their dedication and hope that we can put things right with a strong showing on Saturday.

Thanks for your amazing support

Mark

A despondent Avenue suffered a 2-0 defeat to Chorley to further dent their fading play-off hopes.

Mark Bower made two initial changes to the side that lost to Stockport County on Good Friday, but a late change to the starting line-up saw Adam Smith make his first start for the club in place of Javan Vidal. Jamie Spencer’s impact from the bench against the Hatters earned him a place in the starting eleven and Danny Boshell reclaimed his spot in the centre of midfield. Adam Boyes dropped to the bench and Oli Johnson missed out altogether through suspension.

The home side dominated large portions of the first-half, with Avenue struggling to catch many glimpses of goal.

Alex Newby was the first to call Steven Drench into action, forcing the goalkeeper to beat away a powerful drive from the edge of the box.

A breakdown in communication between Drench and Luca Havern almost allowed Marcus Carver to shoot from mere yards out but the striker was challenged quickly, and the ball was hacked clear.

Avenue’s only chances of the half fell to Frank Mulhern and Jamie Spencer. The latter blasted over from just inside the box and Mulhern’s low drive from a free-kick was held by Matt Urwin.

Josh O’Keefe had an opportunity to fire the hosts ahead when the ball fell kindly for him on the edge of the box, but his drilled effort flew wide.

Chorley were, however, rewarded for their continuous pressure when Carver steered past Drench after Newby had provided a pinpoint cross from the right.

The half-time whistle was music to the ears of Avenue players, who seemed frustrated by their inability to carve open more opportunities and their failure to hold out in the latter stages of the opening 45 minutes.

Avenue found themselves 2-0 down shortly after the restart as an Andy Teague cross picked out an unmarked Jason Walker, who directed his header past Drench with no defender around him.

The visitors continued to struggle to test Urwin, and both Mulhern and Wayne Brooksby glanced headers wide of the post.

Mark Bower’s side knocked on the door repeatedly in the second-half, but Chorley’s defence held strong, leading to praise for the Magpies’ backline in the Avenue manager’s post-match interview.

The Magpies could have extended their lead further in stoppage-time but Drench made a tremendous save to deny Carver’s low drive.

Nicky Wroe and debutant Antoine Remi Recizac both saw long-range efforts blocked before they could reach goal in the late stages, which was symbolic of the afternoon that the Yorkshire side had had.

Avenue have a chance to respond on Saturday, as they face strugglers Leamington at Horsfall Stadium. The action kicks-off at 3pm.

Chorley: Urwin, Challoner, Blakeman, Teague (c), Leather, Jordan, Newby (Wilson 72’), O’Keefe, Carver, Walker (Hughes 82’), Cottrell (Molyneux 89’).

 Unused substitutes: Gregory, Brewster.

 Bradford Park Avenue: Drench, Ross, Hill (Boyes 69’), Wroe (c), Killock, Havern, Brooksby, Boshell (Recizac 87’), Mulhern, Smith (Toulson 45’), Spencer.

 Unused substitutes: Hall.

 Referee: Steve Copeland

Bradford Park Avenue have received confirmation from Chorley that there is no planned pitch inspection for today’s game and the game is on.

However we would like to advise all travelling Supporters to take care when travelling and to set off in good time as delays are to be expected.