ONE time Minor Counties fast bowler Richard Pineo will be slinging down deliveries for York Cricket Club in their last 16 Royal London ECB National Club Championship against Cheserfield on Sunday.

The 39-year-old, who represented Suffolk and Dorset in Minor and List-A matches for nearly a decade, has been recruited by the Clifton Parkers, who hope he will be available for the rest of the season.

Pineo, a PE teacher at Ampleforth School, will bring significant bite to a York attack that will be missing captain Dan Woods, in action for Cheshire in the semi-final of the Minor Counties one-day trophy against Devon.

Woods, whose side will also be missing Jonny Moxon and Jack Leaning, who is on Yorkshire duty, have home advantage against a Derbyshire ECB Premier League outfit fifth bottom of their league.

But the Shipton Road skipper believes they will prove difficult opposition - citing a close game the pair played in the competition a couple of seasons ago.

On Pineo, though, who will make his debut in the game's premier club knockout competition, he said: "He lives in the area, works at Ampleforth, and has expressed an interest in playing. He's been turning out when he can at training and he is quite a big addition for us.

"He is available for the rest of the season and has played Minor Counties cricket for ten seasons. Without a doubt, Sunday is a massive day for the club.

"We've played them before in the knockout - at their place - and we just managed to win. It was a very close game and they are obviously a strong side. We think one of their batsmen, Ben Slater, will be playing for Derbyshire this week and they might be in a similar position to us with Jack Leaning."

First up, York must hang on to the coat-tails of Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League leaders Yorkshire Academy by winning at Appleby Frodingham.

Woods will be available for the match, along with Leaning, and, with five points to make up on the young Tykes, defeat is simply not an option for York.

"We just need to win," Woods added. "It's a huge match. If we win every game then we will be there. We can't afford to be complacent and we have got to win."