PICKERING Town and Selby Town may now be safe from relegation in the Northern Counties East League premier division, but the two rivals will square up tonight with local pride at stake.

The old foes lie just a point apart in 15th and 16th respectively, but with three games to go the race is on to finish as high in the league as possible.

Pikes' boss Steve Brown has already set his side a target of finishing the campaign with 50 points, leaving them needing a maximum points haul from their final three games starting tonight against the Robins.

"We've three games left and I want nine points from them," said Brown. "At the turn of the year we set a target of 50 points and we are now on 41 so we need to win."

Having drawn with second-placed Goole and beaten Liversedge, Brown is unlikely to make any dramatic changes to his side.

Selby Town, meanwhile, will be looking to Andy Cygan to continue his fine end of season run to give them the edge.

Netbusters Harrogate Railway have been set a new goal for their end of season run-in - to score more goals than premier division champions Bridlington.

You would have thought a tally of 153 goals from 58 matches in all competitions would have been enough to satisfy boss Paul Marshall, but he still wants more.

With just three games left of an all-action campaign - on and off the field - Railway hold bragging rights over Bridlington as they have now scored three more goals than them with 85.

And old foes Sheffield had better beware as Railway stick to the 'attack, attack, attack' style of football.

Marshall said: "I have told the players I want us to finish above Bridlington in the scoring charts.

"We were level, but on Monday Brid got four and we netted seven so we have edged ahead now and are the leading goal-scorers. We just need to tighten up at the other end."

Diminutive Steve Davey leads the way again for Rail with 43 goals this season - helped by five in the 7-1 win against Armthorpe on Monday. He scored 40 in 41 games last year.

In division one, Tadcaster Albion wrap up their disappointing season with a crucial game against Staveley.

Although seeking re-election is now a certainty for Wayne Day's men, they stand a better chance of remaining in the Northern Counties League set-up if they can avoid finishing bottom.

However, to ensure at least a little bit of pride, Taddy must beat current anchor outfit Staveley at The Park, with the Miners Welfare side just one point behind them.

Harrogate Town also bring the curtain down on their scampaign tomorrow when they travel to Worksop.

A superb first season in the UniBond League premier division has seen Town on course for a top-six finish, with them needing victory tomorrow to make sure.

Updated: 12:12 Friday, April 25, 2003