PICKERING Town are preparing to face a Hemsworth Miners Welfare side who “always up their game for the top teams”, as manager Paul Marshall has warned.

Last season, the then newly-promoted Wells showed their ability to trouble the division’s stronger sides by being the only team to win home and away against the eventual runners-up, Pickering.

And the Pikes are halfway to settling the score with Hemsworth, having beaten them 1-0 in September, although the goalscorer from that day, Russ Parker has departed the club, along with a few others.

However, Marshall is still confident in the strength of his squad.

He said: “Hemsworth were the only team to do the double over us. They always up their game for the top teams.

“Overall we’re quite strong now after losing Nick Thompson, Harry Andrews and Parker as we have brought in George Eustance and Robert Chipps.”

On Tuesday night, the Pikes lost 4-3 at league rivals Pontefract Collieries in the third round of the NCEL League Cup. Billy Logan opened the scoring, but the Colls scored two either side of half-time.

Niall Tilsley was dismissed between two late Lewis Taylor spot kicks.

Harrogate Railway Athletic are 19th now after Hall Road Rangers were deducted 12 points and dropped to 20th.

Tomorrow, the Rail visit Bottesford Town after seeing the games from Saturday and Wednesday night postponed.

Division one Selby Town are at Nostell Miners Welfare tonight. Selby won 4-0 at AFC Emley in Saturday while Nostell beat Armthorpe Welfare 6-3 two weeks ago.

Leaders Knaresborough Town knocked premier division Maltby Main out of the League Cup on Tuesday night, winning 6-5 on penalties after extra finished with the game 1-1. Boro’s Joel Freeston’s 95th-minute goal was cancelled out 10 minutes later by Dean Conway.

Town return to league action tomorrow when they host eighth-placed Winterton Rangers.