MANAGER Paul Marshall has been running the rule over eight trialists as he continues to assemble his Pickering Town squad.

The former Tadcaster Albion boss, who took his new side to York Minster Engineering League premier division stalwarts Old Malton St Mary's for their second pre-season fixture last night, is scouting a host of players as he bids to put together a team capable of challenging in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

Marshall oversaw a 1-0 defeat to Dunnington Town last week, his first match in charge of the Recreation Ground outfit, and declared there to be a number of positives from the game despite the result.

He explained: "It was a good run considering we'd had only two light sessions before then. The first half started slowly but, by the end of the opening period, we had played some nice stuff. We had a lot of trialists play in the second half and we lost our way a little bit.

"It should have been 0-0 but they got a good break away goal from Jonny Andrew. It was a good work out for all the boys and there were a lot of positives. We are a million miles away from where we will be at the start of the season."

On his collection of trialists, he added: "It was good to get a look at them. All of the boys have come training and we always look to give everyone a chance that has done that. They were getting another chance against Old Malton St Mary's before we make a decision on whether they are good enough.

"A lot of lads have stepped up to the plate and Denny Ingram (Pickering assistant manager) and myself will have a look at them. Most of them have been Saturday afternoon players - in the York Minster Engineering League - and we have one who has been playing at Brooklyn.

"They are not established county players but they want to be. We have to look and I do know what makes a county player."

Pickering's first home pre-season game will be played against a Leeds United Under-21 outfit on Tuesday, July 21, before Marshall and his squad visit NCEL division one outfit Selby Town side the following Saturday.

The Pikes, meanwhile, will play Teesside teams Thornaby in the FA Cup extra preliminary round and Norton and Stockton Ancients in the FA Vase. The FA Cup tie is due to be played on Saturday, August 15, but, with cricket still being played at the Recreation Ground, the match is likely to be moved to the following day.

Marshall said: "It will be a tough game. When we play Northern League teams they are always tough. In the past couple of seasons I have got used to how they play and we tend to do very well against them. It's a good home tie and we much very much look forward to it."

On the challenge of Norton and Stockton Ancients, who Pickering will visit on Saturday, September 5, Marshall added: "They have been promoted last season to division one and a couple of years ago at Tadcaster Albion we beat them in the FA Cup. I think they were going through a bad spell then and they have now come back up.

"They are a team that are progressing now."