PICKERING Town boss Paul Marshall has billed this weekend’s trip to Bridlington Town in the FA Vase as a clash of the title contenders.

Marshall is ready to go toe to toe with Bridlington manager Curtis Woodhouse – the former York City junior and Premier League footballer who turned to boxing a decade ago and won the British super-lightweight title.

Woodhouse has won five consecutive games since taking over from Gary Allanson, while Marshall’s Pickering side had won nine games out of ten prior to last week’s 4-2 defeat against Albion Sports.

The two local rivals have yet to meet in the Northern Counties East League premier division but are level on points in fifth and sixth place respectively, both having games in hand on the teams above.

“It promises to be a cracking game and I am sure there is going to be a massive crowd because we are playing it on Sunday rather than Saturday,” said Marshall.

“In my opinion, both of us will be in there battling it out for the league title at the end of the season – we are both good teams.”

Woodhouse played for Sheffield United, Birmingham City, Peterborough United, Hull City and Grimsby Town before donning the gloves professionally while continuing his football in the non-League arena, counting Harrogate Town as one of his old clubs. Marshall added: “I don’t know Curtis personally but he has done a good job since taking over at Bridlington.

“We know what they are all about and we are looking forward to this tie.”

The Pikes had no game last Saturday due to the annual Wartime Weekend in the town but were in League Cup action in midweek against Hall Road Rangers - second-half goals by Lewis Taylor and, in stoppage time, Ged Dalton sealing their progress to the last 16.

Defensively, the Pikes have been outstanding - they played over 12 hours without conceding a goal until last Tuesday’s defeat to Albion Sports, and notched another clean sheet this midweek.

“We have been very solid at the back and the goalkeeper has been playing well, so it’s been a recipe for success,” said Marshall. “We didn’t play too badly against Albion Sports but it was not our day. It was a probably a good time, at the weekend, to have a little rest.”

Marshall rotated his squad against division one outfit Hall Road with a view to keeping players fresh for the Vase.

Midfielder Jules Gabbiadini made his full debut and teenage centre-back Owen Marshall, the manager’s nephew, was set to be on the bench for the first time since joining the club this summer from York Minster Engineering League outfit Wigginton Grasshoppers.

Midfielder Nathan Kamara starts a suspension against Bridlington after his dismissal for violent conduct against Bottesford on October 8. Marshall said: “Nathan’s absence is a big loss. He is frustrated as he’s going to miss some big games.”

If Sunday’s tie is drawn, the replay will be at Mill Lane on Tuesday.

The Pikes’ next league game is at home to seventh-placed Handsworth on October 29, followed by games against a clutch of top-ten rivals. Marshall said: “By the end of November, we will have had our title credentials seriously put to the test. If we can get through those fixtures unscathed, we will be in a healthy position.”