HOME advantage could prove key for Tadcaster Albion as they welcome non-league giants Spennymoor Town in the FA Cup preliminary round tomorrow, reckons Brewers boss Paul Marshall.

Their tough opponents won the FA Vase a year ago and were champions of the Northern League first division last term - gaining promotion to the Evo-Stik first division north.

But Taddy, who destroyed Barnoldswick Town 5-0 in the extra preliminary round to set up the clash, will welcome back “two big players” for the contest at Ings Lane as striker Carl Stewart and defensive stalwart Denny Ingram return to the first team squad.

And Marshall believes the home side’s support could be the most important factor in igniting another cup run.

“We watched Spennymoor against Ossett in the Evo-Stik League and they are a strong outfit,” he said. “We know it is going to take a great effort to get through it and it is a test we are all relishing.

“We have done it before and we can do it again. I love the FA Cup. I have been very successful in it and it is one of my favourite competitions. When you grow up, all you want to do is win the FA Cup. Just to win a game in the competition is amazing.

“We have been unlucky twice with Tadcaster not to get through (to the first round) and being at home for us is a massive advantage. You look at their crowds and they are getting 500 and they are quite loud and raucous.

“They brought plenty of fans to Ossett and I am glad we are at home. We have got to make sure we play to the maximum of our ability. Everyone knows about Spennymoor - that they won the FA Vase and won their league last year.

“Theirs is the strongest league at our level and so it takes some doing. We know the standard we need to achieve if we want to win the Vase or our league.”

Mitch Cook asked his Pickering Town players to show some pride after they suffered their second 6-0 loss of the season when humiliated at Shaw Lane Aquaforce.

The Recreation Ground outfit ensured they went into tomorrow’s Northern Counties East League premier division game at Worksop Town in good heart after a 1-1 draw at Bridlington Town on Wednesday night.

Sam Calvert scored at the end of the first half after Craig Hogg gave the home side the lead just after the half hour mark. Cook, who could be without Joe Danby, Tony Hackworth, Ged Dalton and Liam Salt for the trip to Nottinghamshire, said that was a standard his men had to replicate “week in and week out”.

“We put a squad together in pre-season that I felt was okay and I still feel that,” he said. “They have let themselves down with some bad results but were much better at Brid. What they did on Wednesday night they need to do week in and week out.”

In division one, Selby look to get back to winning ways against Rossington Main at Flaxley Road while Knaresborough Town are in FA Cup action against West Allotment Celtic.

Harrogate Town bid to find some Conference North form against Oxford City at Wetherby Road. Neighbours Harrogate Railway visit Garforth Town in Evo-Stik first division north.