PICKERING Town boss Paul Marshall wants a minimum four points from their big double-header this coming week - admitting the festive humdingers could make or break their promotion hopes already.

The Pikes face local rivals and fellow form team Bridlington Town on Boxing Day at Brid’s Queensgate home (3pm) and again at Mill Lane on Monday, January 2 (3pm).

Back-to-back victories would keep either side hot on the heels of Northern Counties East League premier division leaders Cleethorpes Town - who are ten points clear but have played three extra games - and at the same time strike a blow to the other’s ambitions.

Marshall’s men sit third, one place and one point above Bridlington, with Thackley sitting second, three points better off having played five more games, including a defeat in midweek at Hemsworth.

"This (double-header against Brid) will probably determine where we'll finish in the league," Marshall reckoned, even though their campaign is only at its midway point.

"Whoever comes out on top will have a title challenge and whoever fails will fall short.

"Yes there's a long way to go and there are a few teams in there, but we'd like to take four points from the two games and be second at the start of the new year.

"I'm not bothered which way round the points come but the priority is not to lose either game and hopefully get at least one win."

Both clubs are in terrific form, with the Pikes winning 15 of their last 19 league games and taking 22 points from a possible 24 in the last eight.

The Seasiders, meanwhile, have won 15 out of 17 since the appointment of Curtis Woodhouse as manager, and they beat Cleethorpes at home last weekend - becoming only the second side to defeat the Lincolnshire outfit, after Pickering.

The clubs have already met once this season when a late Lewis Taylor penalty gave the Pikes a 1-0 victory at Queensgate in the FA Vase in October.

Marshall, who will have a full-strength squad to pick from, still thinks either side have it all to do to catch Cleethorpes, regardless of games in hand.

"Cleethorpes are favourites - ten points clear at this stage of the season. We beat them and Bridlington beat them but they're beating everyone else," he said.

"Brid and ourselves will take points off each other this week so the winners will be Cleethorpes."

Former Sheffield United and Birmingham City midfielder Woodhouse hit the headlines a decade ago when quitting football to take up professional boxing.

On his club’s current form, he said: “It’s been frustrating for me as a manager because we have won 13 out of 14 games and not even put a dent in Cleethorpes because they have been on a great run as well. But it was nice to take three points off them last week."

On the possibility of catching the leaders, he added: “They are going to be very difficult to peg back but all we can do is our bit.”

Meanwhile, inconsistent Harrogate Railway Athletic - whose last five league games have garnered 13 goals for and 18 against, including a 5-0 loss at Pickering - go to fellow low-riders Maltby Main on Bank Holiday Tuesday (3pm).

Railway fell out of the West Riding County Cup in midweek with a third-round 2-1 defeat to Ossett Town. Jason Yates and Danny Frost put the Evo-Stik League club two up at half-time, with Chris Fisher replying.

In division one on Boxing Day, mid-table Selby Town host Hall Road Rangers, who sit comfortably in the play-off places, while Knaresborough Town entertain Yorkshire Amateur needing three points to stay in touch with the leading pack.