PICKERING Town are out for revenge this weekend as they look to extend their Northern Counties East League premier promotion push at home to Thackley on Saturday.

When the sides last met in the reverse fixture, Thackley handed the Pikes their first defeat of the season, which remains a source of frustration for manager Paul Marshall.

Ryan Blott had given the Pikes the lead in the 4-2 loss and could have added to the tally, even having a goal disallowed, before Thackley got on the scoresheet.

Marshall said: “That was one of the most disappointing games of the season, losing 4-2 back in October. We should have been 5-0 up after 30 minutes.

“We owe Thackley one.”

The sides have since experienced contrasting fortunes, with 15th-placed Thackley winning only three since that day and Pickering now third in the division and on an eight-match league winning run.

On Tuesday night, the Pikes beat Albion Sports 5-1 at Mill Lane, adding to their immense goalscoring record since the turn of the year.

Joe Danby opened the scoring with an up-and-over free kick from 20 yards out after quarter of an hour and Ryan Blott doubled the hosts’ advantage before half-time, slotting in from Matty Turnbull’s ball.

Blott added a third after the break, sending the keeper the wrong way as he coolly dispatched a penalty, before Alex Cusack nicked one for the visitors.

In injury time, Billy Logan rounded the keeper and second-half substitute George Eustance nodded home the former’s ball to add gloss to the scoreline.

And as his side enter the final two months of the campaign, Marshall believes they are ready for the final promotion push.

Speaking after his side’s 9-1 demolition of Harrogate Railway Athletic the Tuesday before, Marshall said: “With regard to the squad, we’ve got a full complement now.

“They’re all doing really well and they’re ready for the run-in.

“We’re getting goals from all over now – set pieces and open play.

“It’s seven wins on the bounce now and if we keep that run up we’ll get promoted.”

Harrogate Railway Athletic are looking to arrest a six-game losing run in all competitions when they host eighth-placed Penistone Church tomorrow.

The 19th-placed Rail have not played since their humbling at the hands of Pickering last Tuesday while Church last won 4-1 at Staveley Miners Welfare with Andrew Ring netting a second-half hat-trick to bring up his seventh goal in six games.

Division one promotion-chasers Selby Town tomorrow host second-placed Grimsby Borough who were denied a fifth consecutive win on Wednesday night by an injury-time goal in a 2-2 draw at Worsbrough Bridge Athletic.

The Robins currently occupy sixth, the last promotion play-off spot, despite not having played since their 2-2 draw at Retford United last week in which Joe Dale and George Foster Vigors struck to help Town twice come from behind.

Home games last Saturday and Tuesday against Dronfield Town and Brigg Town were both postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Leaders Knaresborough Town are unbeaten since mid-November and extended that run on Tuesday with a 1-0 win at fifth-placed Shirebrook Town.

Tomorrow, Boro travel to Dronfield whose 2-1 home win over Swallownest on Tuesday saw them leapfrog two clubs into 12th place.