TITLE-HUNTING Pickering Town have beefed up their strike-force by signing one-time York City and Chesterfield spearhead Iain Dunn.

The 31-year-old front-man goes straight into the Pikes' line-up for tonight's Northern Counties East League premier division trip to Thackley United.

For the past few weeks Dunn has largely been confined to bench duty for UniBond League first division championship chasers Harrogate Town. The move to Pickering will afford him more of a regular run-out.

Pikes' boss Jimmy Reid said: "Dunn is a quality player with a good pedigree behind him, so he will give us a bit more.

"Tonight's game is the first of five in the next eight days so we need all the bodies we can get anyhow. We have a few injuries to the likes of Stephane Zoll and Phil O'Reilly, but if 'Dunny' does not start up front then he will start wide on the right of midfield."

Reid has realigned his target for Pickering after initially seeking a top six finish at the outset of the current campaign.

"I would have settled for a top six finish then, but now I will be disappointed if we don't finish in the top three," said Reid.

Pikes trail Alfreton Town and Brigg Town in pursuit of the NCEL premier division crown.

Dunn's former club Harrogate Town aim to press home their UniBond division one claims when they entertain Chorley tonight. Town lead the table by 11 points and victory tonight would leave them needing six wins from their remaining dozen games to take the title.

Updated: 11:49 Tuesday, March 26, 2002