Tadcaster Albion open their FDA Vase campaign against Prudhoe

10:25am Friday 3rd September 2010

By Tony Kelly

Tadcaster Albion are on a mission to boldly go where no Northern Counties East League team have gone before.

The Albion open their FDA Vase campaign at home to Wearside League outfit Prudhoe tomorrow with manager Paul Marshall declaring a pioneering push.

Said Marshall: “It’s time a NCEL team went on a good run and won the competition.

“I don’t think anyone from the NCEL has won it before so why not this season.

“I’ve been in charge of a team that had a decent GA Cup run (with Harrogate Railway) so I would love to have a decent go at the Vase.”

Already this season Tadcaster have been in ground-breaking groove. A brace of successive victories in the preliminary rounds of the FA Cup have been bagged for the first time in club history and they have also recorded their first win in the NCEL premier division to which they were promoted last season.

However, Albion’s bid to initiate a long Vase run will start with the team still missing a regular goalkeeper.

Both Arran Reid and Scott Pallister are suspended – Pallister is back for next Tuesday’s game against long Eaton – while another ’keeper is injured.

That means that right-back Tony Weatherall will continue to deputise between the sticks against Prudhoe. Added Marshall: “He keeps goal really well. He is quite capable and the lads are confident with him in goal.”

Former York City midfielder Marc Thompson, who played his first match of the campaign in that historic 4-1 triumph over Hall Road Rangers, is out of tomorrow’s tie through work commitments.

Fellow NCEL premier division side Selby Town are also in Vase action, and at home too to Sunderland RCA, but manager Mick Gray will have to take a toll of walking wounded before deciding on his line-up.

He has no fewer than ten casualties with striker Benton Leister, pictured, the latest to join the injured list.

“I will have to have a late check to see who is available, but hopefully we will be able to put out a side good enough to get us to the next round of the Vase,” said the boss.

To supplement his crocked ranks, Gray has made a brace of signings. Into contention come central midfielder Drew Rhodes, a 19-year-old just released from Grimsby Town, while Matthew Baird has been signed from Frickley Athletic.

Also on Vase duty are Scarborough Athletic, who head north-east to tackle Seaham Red Star.

Back on the league front, Pickering Town’s new manager Mitch Cook could get off to an illustrious start in his Pikes’ reign if they can muster a win from the short trip to NCEL premier division champions Bridlington Town.

The seaside hosts are continuing to ride high in the table, even so early in the season.

“Now we’re going there with nothing to lose as no-one’s expecting us to win.”

Harrogate Town entertain Hinckley United in the Blue Square Bet North, while Harrogate Railway head west to Fylde in division one north of the Evo-Stik League.