PICKERING Town boss Paul Marshall says his players have made themselves genuine title contenders in the Northern Counties East League given their run of form.

After their humbling by Northern League big guns Shildon in the FA Vase a month ago, the Pikes have won five games on the bounce, culminating in last Saturday’s 5-1 thumping of lowly Armthorpe.

That sequence has propelled them to third in the premier division with games in hand on the teams around them. Winning those spare games would leave them just two points behind leaders Cleethorpes.

Asked if he would talk of title aspirations, Marshall said: “The players are doing enough of that by winning games and not conceding.

“They’ve got themselves in this position so it’s whether we can carry it on.

“All we said at the start of the season was we wanted to improve on our first season, when we finished sixth. I targeted the top three or four but, with the way the season has gone, and the fact we’ve beaten all the top teams, you’ve got to put yourself down as a title contender.

“We’ve beaten Cleethorpes (top), Bridlington (fourth) in the Vase, Handsworth (fifth) and Thackley (second). The boot’s on the other foot now - they’ve got to beat us.”

Pickering face two home games in four days - against mid-table Staveley tomorrow (3pm) and Marshall’s former club, Harrogate Railway, on Tuesday. Rail, relegated from the Evo-Stik League last term, have improved recently after initially continuing their downward spiral.

Asked if maximum points was the target, Marshall said: “The way the league is going you have to win every game to stay in the top few. We’ll be targeting six points, although they are both tough games.

“Railway have improved and Staveley gave South Shields, the FA Vase favourites, a good game in their tie on Saturday. I know their manager, Brett Marshall, and he’s got a good young team.”

A rare midweek off has allowed a number of players extra time to overcome injuries, with Joe Danby and Nick Thompson likely to be available again and Alex Robinson (hamstring) and Russ Parker (hamstring) possibles. Denny Ingram (calf) remains a big doubt though.

Railway, meanwhile, go to high-riding Handsworth where they could do Pickering a favour if they continue their goalscoring form of nine in the last two games.

Evo-Stik League division one north leaders Scarborough Athletic host Radcliffe Borough tomorrow - a club reeling from an arson attack at their ground.

The Seadogs’ midweek match against Farsley was one of several to fall foul of the cold snap, leaving them two points clear of four teams in the chasing pack, including a Lancaster City side who go to Tadcaster Albion tomorrow.

Taddy’s midweek West Riding FA County Cup tie at Yorkshire Amateur was also postponed, this one due to fog. It has been rearranged for December 20, with Silsden awaiting the victors.

Taddy have dropped to 13th in the table after only one win in ten league games.

Harrogate Town host National League high-fliers Barrow in the FA Trophy tomorrow after enjoying a fine 3-0 replay win at National North rivals Salford City in midweek to reach the first round for the first time since 2010.

Joe Leesley gave Town the lead, capitalising on a clever Joe Colbeck dummy - both players recalled to the line-up. Colbeck added a second, thumping home a pull back from Louie Swain, and Andi Thanoj curled in the third from the edge of the box.