HARROGATE Town boss Neil Aspin has warned his team not to take Conference North basement boys Bradford Park Avenue lightly at Wetherby Road tonight.

Carl Shutt's men may be heading for the UniBond League but Aspin is still expecting a tough test as Town hope to stay on track for the play-offs.

Town currently occupy the fifth and final play-off place but know they cannot suffer many more slip-ups after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Barrow.

Former Leicester City midfielder Lee Philpott will be missing for a third successive game because of a pulled thigh muscle but Town will be fully fit otherwise.

Aspin said: "We cannot afford to take anybody lightly after getting beaten by Barrow because Altrincham will be a point behind us if they win their game in hand.

"One thing for certain is that Bradford won't want to do us any favours so we have to perform better than we did on Saturday to get a result."

Park Avenue have been a bogey team for Town in recent seasons and will be bidding for their third straight victory at Wetherby Road.

Selby Town should have a straightforward task as they bid to reclaim top spot in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

Having been usurped as leaders by Goole on goal difference at the weekend, Selby will move three points clear if they win their game in hand at bottom club Borrowash Victoria tonight.

The hosts are yet to taste victory in the league this season and only have six points to their name.

Third-placed Harrogate Railway, six points behind but having played a game less, will be hoping to capitalise on any unlikely shock at Borrowash by winning at Eccleshill United.

Pickering Town boss Alex Mathie, meanwhile, believes his side's cup success has had an impact on the club's faltering league form.

The Pikes, who reached the fourth round of the FA Vase, only have an outside chance of finishing champions having drawn 0-0 at Mickleover Sports on Saturday.

Mathie's men entertain strugglers Brodsworth tonight and the former York City and Newcastle United striker expects to field an unchanged side with Steve Baxter and Mark Swales still unavailable.

The Pikes boss said: "The race for the title won't be over until it's impossible but I have been disappointed with the way we are ending the season.

"We have dropped too many silly points since Christmas although we have missed a lot of key players through injury and I don't think our cup runs have helped.

"We have had game after game and that has had an impact.

"I can't remember when we last had a free Tuesday night while other teams have been getting their rest in."

Updated: 09:32 Tuesday, April 05, 2005