EIGHT games left and Harrogate Town have been set a points total of 15 from the possible maximum 24.

Town boss John Reed has laid down the 15-point target for his Harrogate have-nots starting with tomorrow's visit of in-form Stalybridge Celtic to Wetherby Road.

Currently, the Celtic ranks are the form team of the UniBond League premier division. An envious Reed explained how the Bower Field men have plundered five straight wins since they captured midfielder Scott Bonsall from Town and paid Bradford Park Avenue £5,000 for ex-Rotherham striker Andy Hayward in deadline-day moves.

"That's the difference between the two sides - resources," declared Reed. "Stalybridge are a big-money club, an ex-Conference club and they have got cash, while we're operating on a shoestring.

"To be where we are now is staggering, especially when you consider we've not had our top scorer Glenn Naylor for the last four matches and we've been without midfielder James McDaid as well. Take two influential players like those out of what is a tiny squad and you're bound to miss them."

Reed could have 18-goal Naylor back for the visit of Stalybridge. He is awaiting any possible reaction from his knee injury to his return to training this week.

If the ex-York City and Darlington front-man returns to action it will boost Reed's hope of plundering at least 15 points from the final eight outings.

"I reckon if we got 15 points that would guarantee us a top six finish which would be a fantastic achievement. Anything above that would be a bonus and a half."

After their midweek conquest of leaders Ossett Albion, Pickering Town go into tomorrow's Northern Counties East League premier division visit of Sheffield in excellent spirit.

The Pikes have been further boosted by the return to the squad of central defender Pete Vasey, who missed the Ossett win, to leave the hosts at full strength and at full steam said manager Steve Brown.

"We've yet to play Sheffield this season so they are a bit of an unknown quantity," said Brown. "But on our day we are as good as anyone, so we've got no reason to fear Sheffield."

With NCEL premier clubs now presently coming under the UniBond League microscope to see if grounds are of a good enough standard for inclusion in the higher division, it was paramount to post as high a finish as possible.

So declared Selby Town boss Bob Lyon who confirmed to the Evening Press that their Flaxley Road ground had yesterday passed an official UniBond inspection.

The only problem now was finishing in the top four, which clubs have been led to believe will steer them to a promotion spot.

Selby have six games left and five wins would realise that top-four placing, ventured Lyon ahead of tomorrow's trip to lowly Borrowash.

"Clubs won't know for definite until May 9, so we have to just get as many points on board.

"Out of our last ten games we've only picked up four points, but at least in the final six matches, five of those clubs are in the bottom six."

Goole's objective is similarly to prise as many points from their remaining nine games, starting with tomorrow's clash at home to Glasshoughton Welfare.

Said Goole boss Jimmy Reid: "We want to be in the mix for the UniBond League, so we have to get our finger out and try to make sure that we finish in the top four.

"It's a big ask and it was a big loss for us last week to Sheffield because with them winning in midweek to go third we are now 12 points behind them."

Defender Steve Jeff and striker Steve Rawlinson both return to the Goole squad and both will come into contention tomorrow as Reid ponders a re-shuffle in order to get the hosts back in the winning groove.

Harrogate Railway are at home in the premier division to title-chasing Brigg Town determined to quickly recover from their single-goal loss to Glapwell.

Meanwhile, in the NCEL first division Tadcaster Albion make the trip to Garforth anxious to end their recent run of woes.

Updated: 12:09 Friday, April 02, 2004