PICKERING Town travel to Northern Counties East League premier leaders AFC Mansfield for a top-of-the-table clash tomorrow.

The Pikes sit third, eight points behind the Bulls and with three games in hand, and last time out won 4-1 at Rainworth Miners Welfare to claim their 10th consecutive league win.

Mansfield have stalled – by their standards – recently, winning three of their last six league games. Last week they comfortably beat Staveley Miners Welfare 4-0.

Tomorrow’s fixture also sees the division’s top two marksmen go head-to-head.

Mansfield’s Oliver Fearon has netted 42 this campaign, with eight coming in cup fixtures, while Ryan Blott has scored 40 times in the league with just one coming in the cup.

Pickering manager Paul Marshall said: “The boys are playing really well with a good tempo and good work rate – everything you need to win a league.

“Mansfield aren’t in the same class as us in footballing terms. They score a lot of goals going route one through Oliver Fearon.

“Blott’s way out in front in league goals but I think he’d like to be top overall. But what will be will be, and he’s more interested in us getting promoted.

“If we can secure three points there, it puts us well on our way to finishing first or second. I’m looking to achieve over 100 points to guarantee promotion.”

Both Billy Logan and Ged Dalton will be unavailable for Pickering tomorrow.

Harrogate Railway Athletic tomorrow travel to second-placed Pontefract Collieries who lost 2-1 at Penistone Church last Tuesday while the Rail lost 1-0 at Barton Town.

Division one leaders Knaresborough Town were at Handsworth Parramore last night in the League Cup fourth round and tomorrow host second-placed Eccleshill United.

Selby Town hosted bottom side Brigg Town and tomorrow travel to 17th-placed East Yorkshire Carnegie who have lost seven consecutive games.