IT could be a defining weekend for Tadcaster Albion. Paul Marshall’s top-of-the-table side entertain second-placed Brighouse Town in Northern Counties East League division one knowing a win might just hand them the title.

Albion, who were learning lessons about premier division football when they met high-flying Armthorpe Welfare in the fourth round of the NCEL League Cup last night, are tied on points with Brighouse but have played two games less then their title rivals.

Pickering Town, set to meet Tadcaster in the League Cup semi-finals should they beat Armthorpe, showed the good and the bad in their Easter programme and boss Mark Wood will be hoping they can be brilliant when they travel to Parkgate.

Having inflicted a first defeat in 20 league and cup games on Armthorpe last Saturday in a 2-0 victory, the Pikes were poor in a 3-0 defeat to Arnold Town on Easter Monday.

With Pickering still a place away from Wood’s stated intention of reaching sixth spot, he will be keen for his side to regain the winning thread against a Parkgate team 14th in the premier division table.

Michael McNaughton and Chaz Wrigley got the Pickering goals against Armthorpe and Wood will be hoping goal machine Liam Salt can get back on the scoresheet.

Selby Town, still trying to arrest a shocking decline in the premier division, have a tough test at Armthorpe.

The Robins’ struggles continued when they were thumped 3-0 at Lincoln Moorlands Railway on Wednesday night.

That meant Selby have secured victory just once in their last nine matches.

Harrogate Town’s 1-0 loss at Hyde United has left them teetering on the brink of relegation.

Adrift at the foot of the Blue Square North table – eight points behind Vauxhall Motors but with four matches in hand – Town simply have to win at Blyth Spartans to have any realistic hope of beating the drop.

Harrogate Railway, now virtually safe from UniBond League division one relegation after a 4-1 win at Garforth Town, entertain Skelmersdale United at Station View.