FORMER Minor Counties fast bowler Richard Pineo will take the new ball for York Cricket Club as they look to keep the pressure on at the top of the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League.

The 40-year-old, who represented Suffolk and Dorset in Minor and List-A matches for nearly a decade, makes his first appearance of the season as the Clifton Parkers travel to Cleethorpes Town.

Captain Nick Kay and his men are looking to record a sixth straight league win and continue a run of form that sees them in third place.

Still 14 points behind leaders Barnsley, tomorrow's match in North East Lincolnshire is a game the skipper says his side simply must win.

And he is delighted to have Pineo, a teacher at Ampleforth School, back in the line-up.

"He is a handy performer who has not played this year," Kay said. "He played four or five times last year and he will take the new ball. He brings a lot of experience to the bowling line up and he is a really good asset."

On the challenge of Cleethorpes, he added: "I said to the lads after the last game that every single match from now until the end of September is a cup final if we are to have any ambitions of catching Bradford. We can't afford to lose any games of cricket.

"We have got a lot of momentum. The lads are believing they can beat anyone out there. There's a different mentality and the lads are gelling as a team. If you look at the teams we have beaten in the last few weeks, there are some strong sides in there.

"Cleethorpes are one of those teams that win games they shouldn't and lose games they shouldn't. They are a young team but have Alex Osmond, who is one of the best all-rounders in the league while Bill Kirby has been prolific for a number of years.

"If you can put pressure on the youngsters and negate their more experienced players we would hope to come back on top.

"They are dangerous but so are we and I would back our players to get the upper hand."

Kay continued: "Without underestimating Cleethorpes, if we put in the same sort of performance as the last six weeks I would be very disappointed if we didn't get the right result.

"It's a game that on paper we should win. It is one of our favourite away days and always brings the best out of us."

Pineo is the only change for York, with bowler Charlie Elliot still absent.