HARROGATE Railway boss Paul Marshall is aiming for a better finish than last year to keep a remarkable managerial run going.

Marshall - boss at Station View for four years - has finished higher up the Northern Counties East League standings each year, culminating in the club-record fifth place in the premier division last season.

This year he is wanting to beat that, or at least equal it but with more points on the board.

"With the FA Cup run we had, I thought it might be too difficult to finish fifth again and I was thinking that finishing in the top half would be a reasonable effort. But the way we're going, we can do it," he said.

Railway have only lost two league games since November - even the FA Cup payments' row has not really affected the side - and winning their games in hand will see them rise further.

Sheffield are the visitors tomorrow and another South Yorkshire club, Hallam, call on Monday.

"The aim has to be to get more points than last year and finish fifth or above," added Marshall.

Hitman Steve Davey is on course to finish top scorer in the league, but Marshall also had special praise for 17-year-old defender Greg Anderson and midfielder Danny Ames. "They keep doing well for us," he said.

Injury problems have continued to pile up. Shaun Constable, Mark Watkinson, Matty Flynn and Dean Wilson, along with the unavailable Steve Haddon, are ruled out this week, but Marshall added: "We've got strength in depth, which, although it does affect the reserve team, is helping us a lot."

Leaders Goole are at home to Liversedge but know top spot is under threat from Bridlington Town, who have games in hand over the Victoria Pleasure grounds outfit.

Selby Town, who take on Glasshoughton Welfare at Flaxley Road, have appointed a new commercial manager.

Andy Lodge, a businessman from Drax, has taken over the job from Bill Croad, who resigned due to increasing pressures in his full-time job.

Pickering Town embark on the first of four home games in March which they hope will see them pull away from the NCEL premier division relegation zone.

They tackle fellow strugglers Armthorpe Welfare tomorrow and also entertain Eccleshill (March 15), Thackley (March 25) and Glasshoughton (March 29).

Boss Steve Brown said: "It's a vital period. At the end of the month we could be looking at the wrong end of the table still, or we could have relieved a lot of pressure.

"If we win tomorrow we will do ourselves a lot of good."

Brown has been hit by a major injury crisis in which Alex Wilgrass, Dean McAuley, Gavin Dickenson, Ricky Greening, Pete Vasey and Adam Wash are struggling.

"There's that many with doubts and niggles that I haven't got a clue at this stage who will be playing," added Brown.

Tadcaster Albion, cast adrift in the division one basement with bottom club Staveley, are not scheduled to play tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Harrogate Town will be looking to move up the UniBond League premier division table at home to Gainsborough Trinity at Wetherby Road.

The new strike partnership of Robbie Whellans and Darren Beesley helped Town to a 2-1 win at Lancaster, where Whellans netted his 20th goal this term.

Trinity boss Phil Stant, the ex-Bury, Lincoln and Notts County striker, has had a massive clear-out at Northolme, releasing a dozen players - including former York City striker Colin Alcide, pictured above.

It had the desired effect as Trinity beat bottom club Hyde 5-1.

Updated: 09:29 Friday, February 28, 2003