PICKERING Town are hoping to strike back tomorrow with the return of some much-needed firepower.

The Pikes have scored just 12 goals in their 14 league games so far this season but will be able to call upon forwards Luke Ibbetson and Ricky Greening for the first time in weeks when they go to mid-table Glapwell on Saturday.

Manager Steve Brown said: "We are coming off the back of a defeat so we will be looking to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

"The good thing is that from having a lack of strikers we have now got a multitude of options we can take."

Former York City junior Ibbetson won a scholarship at a South Carolina college after a good season last year, while Greening is now fit to return after being sidelined by a back injury for two weeks. Also back will be Mark Wood after a five-week ban.

Glapwell are currently 13th in the Northern Counties East premier division and even though Pickering are up in sixth, Brown is not expecting an easy game.

He said: "We played them a few weeks ago and it was a close game because they are well organised and have good discipline. It certainly won't be easy for us and we can't take anything for granted."

Harrogate Town has been rocked by the news that star defender James Riordan will be out for the rest of the season.

The 22-year-old is on crutches after seriously damaging his groin ligaments during Tuesday night's 2-0 county cup defeat by Ossett Town.

Boss John Reed said: "Losing James is really bad news because he is possibly going to be out for the season.

"It's a massive blow and very disappointing, especially because there have been quite a few league scouts watching him recently.

"He just went in for a normal tackle - nothing malicious about it whatsoever - but sometimes you can just get unlucky."

James McDaid will replace him at centre half with the squad otherwise rated as 95 per cent full strength.

Harrogate host tenth-placed Ashton United tomorrow in their continuing drive for promotion from the UniBond League premier division.

Reed is hoping to seal a loan move for a mystery Scunthorpe forward in time for tomorrow after watching a reserve match against Hartlepool earlier this week.

He said: "We have had one or two bad results recently so we have got to try topick things up again."

Harrogate Railway will be gunning for revenge when they go to Glasshoughton Welfare after two narrow defeats this season.

Railway are currently one place ahead of their opponents in the Northern Counties East premier division and will be looking to stretch the gap with a win with the added revenge factor hopefully providing an extra incentive.

Martin Haresign said: "They are in a similar position to ourselves. The day the previous manager got the sack was after a 4-2 home defeat and I took a team there since then in the league cup and lost 2-1 so we will be looking for a bit of revenge.

"Although they are down there, they will be looking for the win so it won't be easy. I often look at league positions but we have played two or three teams below us who we thought we should have easily beaten but there is not that much between the teams in this league."

Haresign is currently trying to get a new centre-half but will have to wait at least another week for it to come off, and in the meantime, he has not ruled out promoting some of the reserves.

He said: "The reserves have been doing really well - they won a cup game on Tuesday and are top of their league - so I might have to bring players in from there."

Bob Matthews and Russell Barley will both be missing for Selby's trip to basement side Brodsworth Welfare in the Northern Counties East premier division due to suspension, while Tadcaster Albion in Division One are at home to Worsborough Bridge.

Updated: 12:48 Friday, December 12, 2003