PICKERING Town manager Paul Marshall has commended the Pikes’ team spirit and professional attitude ahead of tomorrow’s Northern Counties East League premier clash with lowly Parkgate.

The Pikes have been on top form since the turn of the year, sitting third after netting 41 goals and earning a maximum haul from their last eight games.

In contrast, 20th-placed Parkgate are four points from safety, having lost 15 of the 18 league games since the reverse fixture in September which Pickering won 5-2.

Although the Pikes are in a goalscoring purple patch, Marshall is still exercising caution ahead of the visit of a side threatened with a relegation dogfight.

He said: “Parkgate have got a new manager, Billy Fox, who’s brought new players in. He’s got experience with Staveley and Thackley.

“I’m going to watch them against Rainworth because we’ve got them next Tuesday too.

“They’ll be a tough team. They’re fighting against relegation and they’ll be battling very, very hard.

“It doesn’t matter who you play, you’ve got to play every game as a cup final, and the players are treating every game with the utmost respect.

“Billy Logan and Ryan Blott are on fire. They’re two good goalscorers working hard and leading the line well and there’s no player in our league who can stop them.

“We’re doing well and we’ve got good team spirit.”

Last Saturday's home game against Thackley was postponed.

Harrogate Railway Athletic tomorrow travel to Liversedge to face them for the second time in four days. The Rail lost 3-0 to Sedge at Station View on Wednesday night.

Division one Selby Town visited play-off rivals Shirebrook Town last night and tomorrow are at strugglers Worsbrough Bridge Athletic.

Knaresborough Town have a 15-point lead at the summit after a 2-0 home win over Rossington Main on Tuesday. Tomorrow Boro host second-bottom Retford United.