TADCASTER Albion chief Paul Marshall is hoping goalkeeper Tom Morgan will be okay to don the gloves again as the Northern Counties East League premier division table-toppers go to Athersley Recreation tomorrow.

The Brewers’ custodian was forced off with concussion and a broken nose during the club’s come-from-behind midweek win at Heanor Town - a result that put Marshall’s men three points clear at the summit.

Peter Lawrie deputised and Marshall praised the youngster’s contribution, saying he “did exceptionally well”, but on former Farsley keeper Morgan he said: “He feels okay. We have spent the time since the game assessing him and there is no rush.”

Marshall was delighted with the Heanor victory, secured when striker Carl Stewart - returning after a lengthy suspension following a clash in Sunday football - got the winner with half an hour remaining.

“It was a massive result,” Marshall admitted. “It was typical Carl. You know what you are going to get - goals.

“When we went 1-0 down they were on top of the game but Callum Ward scored a goal out of nothing and it really rocked Heanor.

“We got the goal at a vital time and it just spurred us on.”

On Athersley, he added: “They lost their main striker when Joe Thornton went to Shaw Lane Aquaforce. Last year we had a really tough game, winning with a Tony Hackworth penalty, and they play on a lovely, big surface.

“We will be going for a win away from home. We don’t try to take a point.”

Pickering Town boss Mitch Cook admitted “nothing comes easily” as his side try to get over a narrow defeat against Tadcaster by entertaining Staveley Miners Welfare - the last side to beat the Brewers.

Cook felt his team were “unlucky not to get all three points” when they fell narrowly in the keenly contested derby clash last weekend.

The Recreation Ground chief was heartened after his team, who have struggled for consistency in the NCEL premier division all season, went to Ings Lane and gave them a real fright before losing 2-1.

“We think we deserved a point and we were unlucky not to get all three,” said the Pickering boss, who has now called on his charges to take that performance into the game against Staveley.

“They (Tadcaster) are top of the league and that’s why they are there. We can’t do anything about luck and officials. The atmosphere was brilliant.

“There is nothing we can do about what happened. All we can do is take it into the next game. Staveley were the last team to beat Tadcaster so nothing comes easily.

“On chances created, we probably had more and their man of the match was their goalkeeper. We created the opportunities. What good teams do is win games when they are not playing well. We seem to have to play magnificently at the moment. Hopefully, that will change.”