PICKERING Town boss Mitch Cook is hoping to welcome goal-getter Liam Salt back into the squad for tomorrow’s FA Vase second round tie at Staveley Miners’ Welfare.

Salt, the club’s top scorer last season, has been out since mid-September after he was injured in a local league match.

That led Cook to order his first-teamers to cut down on their Sunday football and it had been initially feared that Salt would not be back in action at the Recreation Ground until after Christmas.

Cook, who has been forced to field a young squad in recent weeks, will be delighted to have Salt back in the frame as Pickering look to build a decent cup run.

The Vase is a useful source of revenue for clubs and Cook, who watched his side narrowly lose 1-0 at Scarborough Athletic last weekend, is well aware of its importance.

Staveley are currently third in the league below Pikes, the Northern Counties East League first division, with 32 points from 16 games – three points behind leaders Barton Town Old Boys.

The last time the two sides met at Staveley was in March 2007 in the League Cup when Pickering lost 3-1, Danny Gildea scoring their only goal in the second half.

If the game ends in a draw, the replay will be held on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Tadcaster Albion’s odds of winning the FA Vase have been cut from 125-1 to 66-1 following a flurry of online cash, and Paul Marshall’s men will look to justify their shortening price at Forest Town in the second round.

The hosts, who play in the Notts Senior League three tiers below Albion, have billed the game as the “biggest game in their short history”.

Town manager Pete Shuttleworth said: “This will be a tough game against a very good side. However, it is a game which our lads will enjoy playing in as it is a chance to test themselves against better players.”

Albion boss Paul Marshall said Forest Town needed to be treated with the utmost respect.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge. I have been in their situation many times before and the underdog can get a win,” he said.

“It’s all about attitudes. If we get ours right we should be good enough to win the game, if we are off our game we can be beaten.

“They are a very physical, hard-working team but, when we perform so well against a team like Shildon who are flying high in the Northern League, there is no reason why we can’t have a good run in the Vase.”

Albion are still without Danny Farthing and Matty Howgate and must also cope without striker Rob Pell, who is on holiday, and Nick Thompson, who is serving a suspension.

Meanwhile, a charity match between Tadcaster Albion and The Press due to have been held tonight, and with Marco Gabbiadini the guest star, has been cancelled because of flooding at Ings Lane.

It will be rescheduled for later in the season.

Scarborough Athletic are also in second round Vase action, at home to Armthorpe Welfare.

Selby Town are at Brighouse in the Northern Counties East League premier division aiming to build on Wednesday night’s 1-1 draw at Lincoln Moorlands.

Lincoln went in front on eight minutes, but Chris Davis levelled for the eighth-placed Robins two minutes later.

Harrogate Town, who lost 1-0 to Blyth Spartans on Tuesday night in Blue Square Bet North, are at Alfreton Town tomorrow.

Struggling Harrogate Railway Athletic entertain Mossley in Evo-Stik League division one north.