SAPPED by more than 120 minutes of cup duty against Selby Town, Tadcaster Albion’s powers of recovery will be summoned to zap a title challenger.

Runaway Northern Counties East League premier division table-toppers Tadcaster go to Worksop Town, who lay in third place ten points adrift of Albion but with a game in hand.

Success for the visitors would go a long way to reinforcing Albion’s championship claims.

Declared manager Paul Marshall: “It’s a huge game for us because I think the title is between ourselves, Shaw Lane, Worksop and Heanor.

“If we were to get a win tomorrow at Worksop that would be amazing. It would set us up right for going into the Christmas programme and it would also give us great confidence for the rest of the season.

“And while we set out to win every match we play, I would not be too unhappy if we remained unbeaten tomorrow.”

The big boost for Marshall from the penalty-shoot-out win over NCEL first division visitors Selby was goalkeeper Pete Lawrie - in for the suspended Tom Morgan - gaining 120 minutes game-time.

“He’s got that under his belt and he did really well with a great save in the shoot-out and also a fine one-on-one stop in normal time,” said Marshall, who will also welcome the return of Denny Ingram tomorrow. The only doubt hangs over striker Carl Stewart, who has a hamstring strain.

Marshall praised Selby for their part in an absorbing West Riding County Cup tie at Ings Lane.

The Robins led 1-0 after the first minute and 2-1 after ten minutes before Albion went 3-2 up in the 23rd minute. A stoppage-time strike from Dan Bunch took the tie to 3-3 and extra time and then penalties, where Albion prevailed 4-2.

“Selby battled really hard and full credit to them for giving it a go,” said the Albion boss. “We wasted a lot of chances in the second half of normal time with their goalkeeper Arran Reid the man of the match, as I expected he would be.”

Robins boss Dave Ricardo also paid tribute to his players for taking the premier division leaders all the way. “They are a very good side and they rested four or five, but we had nine missing and only two outfield subs, so it is a testament to our players,” he said.

“They had the majority of the possession and Arran made some quality saves, but we gave away three awful goals and we had two very good chances to win.”

Ricardo is urging his side to carry their big game approach into tomorrow’s NCEL division one fixture against Bottesford at Flaxley Road.

Selby are lifted by the return of Tom Bennett, Liam Wilkin, Richard Medcalf, Craig Muirhead and Rich Williams, but Chris Jackson, Bunch and Jamie Forrester are out.

Also in the NCEL first division, Knaresborough go to Hall Road Rangers.

Buoyed by a fine midweek win at Colwyn Bay courtesy of a James Walshaw header and a fine goalkeeping display from Phil Barnes, Conference North side Harrogate Town head to Kings Lynn in the FA Trophy third qualifying round.

Neighbours Harrogate Railway Athletic host Northwich Victoria in Evo-Stik League division one north in which Scarborough Athletic travel to Padiham.

 

Pikes’ push

A NEW era beckons for Pickering Town tomorrow when they go to Albion Sports in the NCEL premier division.

The game is the first under the stewardship of Tony Hackworth after his confirmation as the Pikes’ new boss in succession to Mitch Cook to whom he was assistant.

In three caretaker games, he helmed two wins and a draw, the latter a gutsy penalty shoot-out League Cup exit at Scarborough Athletic.

Said Hackworth: “My job now is to get the best out of the players, though if I have to add one or two I will. It’s about continuing this run and getting up the table as quickly as we can.”