A DOUBLE blast from Dexter Tucker gave buoyant Selby Town a dream start as the FA Cup kicked into gear for our region's teams.

Tucker scored in the 11th and 26th minutes against Tynesiders South Shields and Selby's positive start to the season looked set to continue unabated.

However, the visitors refused to cave in as Peter Croft pulled a goal back.

And even after Mark Turner netted Selby's third to restore their two-goal advantage Ben Ryan ensured a tense finish for the Robins by scoring for South Shields after the break.

Harrogate Railway steamed through their pre-liminary round tie with a comfortable 2-0 victory over fellow Northern Counties East League outfit Bridlington Town.

Second-half goals from Danny Ames and Pete Ridley saw the Railwaymen through.

Pickering Town put in a five star showing as they cruised into the next round by beating Northern League outfit Shotton Comrades 5-1.

Two penalties from Joe Connor started and finished the rout with further goals from Gary Chapman (2) and Stefan Zoll before Shotton scored a late consolation.

The Pikes days was marred however by injuries picked up by Adam Wash (ankle) and Phil O'Reilly (shin).

UniBond League division one outfit Harrogate Town have it all to do again after twice letting slip a lead in their tie with Northern League opponents West Auckland Town.

Peter Atkinson had handed Harrogate a 27 minute lead from the penalty spot after Matt Albery was hauled down.

But six minutes later plucky West Auckland restored parity when Phil McGuire levelled.

Harrogate regained the lead in the 37th minute through Albery following some fine play from Michael Ord.

However, it took just another six minutes for Auckland to draw level again with Ray Stanger scoring direct from a 43rd minute free-kick.

The teams will meet again tomorrow night at Harrogate's Wetherby Road ground, kick-off 7.45pm.

Tadcaster Albion were sunk 5-1 at UniBond League division one outfit Ossett Town who never looked back after taking a fifth minute lead through Scott Jackson.

Paul Sykes made it 2-0 with a header before Tadcaster hit back when Malcolm Bolland created the opening for richard Howley to score.

But before the interval Brendan Aspinall restored Ossett's two goal cushion and the home side scored twice for after half-time through Jackson and Sykes.

Goole also made an early exit from the competition when they lost 1-0 at Thackley. The only goal came as early as the seventh minute when Goole only half cleared Mark Sugden's long throw and Dave Cunningham lashed the ball in off a post from the edge of the box.

Andy Flounders missed below-par Goole's best chance of an equaliser just before half-time.

Pickering Under-19s start their Northern Youth Alliance campaign at Selby Town tonight (7.45pm).

Squad: Sturgess, Ellwood, Dobson, Hillaby, Johnstone, Taylor, Atkinson, Towse, McGinty, Birkley, Richardson, Wilson, Beach, Bowley.

Updated: 12:35 Monday, September 03, 2001