SOMETHING will have to give at Wetherby Road tomorrow when top-of-the-table Alfreton visit home loving Harrogate Town in Nationwide North.

Harrogate have proved unbeatable at their home ground this season but Alfreton, who have won all three away games, will be keen to end that record.

Alfreton, who had Harrogate's convincing 2-0 home defeat of Stalybridge watched on Tuesday night, will be at a slight advantage with several Town players likely to be missing. Goalkeeper Paul Shepherd is out with a thigh strain, influential former York City man James Turley may sit out with a slight knock and an ankle injury to record transfer Lee Morris promises to keep him out for at least three weeks.

But manager John Reed is confident his men can put up a good fight. He said: "The guy from Alfreton will have gone away thinking 'if they play like that on Saturday we're in for a cracker' because we were that good. It stands to be a great game."

Behind the scenes, Reed is trying to snare the services of two Accrington Stanley players on loan to keep his squad on their toes.

Neighbours Harrogate Railway hope to kick-start their campaign tomorrow at home to Eccleshill.

The Rail, hammered 7-3 in their FA Cup preliminary round replay at Esh Winning on Tuesday, are the only point-less team in the Northern Counties East League premier division and Martin Haresign's men cannot allow a big gap to open up. Fifth-placed Eccleshill, with one defeat in four, will provide a stern test tomorrow.

Meanwhile, unbeaten records go on the line at Goole where Paul Marshall's men, with two wins from two, take on Liversedge, who have five points from three games.

Updated: 10:55 Friday, September 10, 2004