TEN of the best is up for grabs for...the best.

That's the prospect for now outright Northern Counties East League premier division front-runners Tadcaster Albion, who were described by jubilant chief Paul Marshall as the leading squad he had been associated with in 17 years of management.

A midweek 4-1 pasting of hosts Parkgate not only powered the Brewers to a point clear of the rest of their NCEL top-flight rivals, but also clinched a ninth successive victory for a September of sheer scintillating form.

Enthused Marshall: "To go the entire month not only unbeaten but winning every match and to go top of the division is superb.

"It's the best month I have had in 17 years in management.

"We are flying and I have to say that this is the best squad I have had and they are playing the best football."

That final statement gains even more impact given how Marshall was in charge of the Harrogate Railway Athletic team which reached the second round of the FA Cup and a live televised game against Bristol City in December 2002.

Next up for Albion is a clash at Staveley Miners Welfare, where Tadcaster will be gunning to rattle up a tenth league win on the spin.

The hosts are currently seventh in the NCEL premier division, but may well be fearful about trying to contain a rampant Albion attack for whom the marksmen against Parkgate were skipper Nick Thompson (2), Paddy Miller, with his first strike for the club, and Callum Ward from the penalty spot.

Said Marshall: "We are averaging almost four goals a game and it's that type of entertaining football that is helping to attract fans from York and Leeds to watch us.

"And you have to remember that we are scoring so many goals without our main forward Carl Stewart, who is still suspended. I don't know how many goals we would have had by now if he had been available to us."

Besides Stewart, the only other absentee is the injured Andy Milne, so the Albion chief has almost a full-strength squad to choose from for the Staveley MW encounter.

"We are top now and we know that everybody wants to beat us," said Marshall.

"But the way we are playing it's going to take something extraordinary to beat us."

Home advantage will be key for Knaresborough Town, whose NCEL first division duty pits them against Teversal.

In the Conference North, Harrogate Town make the short cross-Pennines trip to Chorley, while neighbours Harrogate Railway entertain Warrington in the Evo-Stik League first division north, where Scarborough Athletic are also at home to Ossett Albion.