HARROGATE Town have failed in a bid to land Halifax Town hit-man Steve Kerrigan on a month's loan.

Harrogate had agreed a deal with the Conference club for the 29-year-old ahead of tomorrow's UniBond League premier division home clash against Emley.

But the Scot turned down the move yesterday and left 'Gate boss John Reed still searching for a front-man to end a mini striker crisis at Wetherby Road, in which three forwards have been lost to injury or unavailability in the past seven days.

Scott Jackson will be unavailable for five weeks. Former York City and Chesterfield striker Iain Dunn, who picked up a knock in the friendly against Tadcaster, is out for up to three weeks, and now one-time Darlington front-runner Clint Marcelle has been ruled out for three weeks after pulling his hamstring.

Kerrigan, a £50,000 signing from Shrewsbury, hit 25 goals for the Shaymen, including 19 in the league, in their 2000-01 Division Three season.

However, he has struggled to get into the side this season under boss Chris Wilder following their relegation to the Conference, and Reed had hoped he could persuade him to step down a division.

"His pedigree is good and he would have done a good job for us for a month," Reed told the Evening Press. "But, although we had agreed a deal with Halifax, he won't come."

Reed, who has taken his search for a striker elsewhere, added: "We might have to keep making additions to the squad until we feel we've got something strong enough to keep us in this premier division.

"We've only played five games since we won promotion and the difference between this division and the first is unbelievable.

"It's new to everybody at the club so we don't know what's there for us at this level."

Former York City defender John Fielding and Scott Bonsall come into tomorrow's squad.

Selby Town will hope to take their FA Cup form into the FA Vase tomorrow as they entertain Louth United in the first qualifying round of the competition.

The Robins - without a point or a goal in three Northern Counties East League premier division games this term - drew 0-0 with Newcastle Blue Star in the Cup last Saturday before finally finding their shooting boots for the replay, winning 4-2.

They will be favourites to win through this Vase tie against NCEL division one side Louth who, despite a good FA Cup win last week over Cheadle Town, have not yet won a league game.

Pickering Town boss Steve Brown will be without unavailable duo Pete Vasey and Jody Chapman as the Pikes entertain Hallam, but Matthew Morton and Joe Connor are set to return.

Brown is hoping his side can heap more misery on the Sheffield side, who have conceded ten goals in their last two Northern Counties East League premier division matches and are yet to win a league game this season.

Brown said: "We've got a big month in September with four home games and we need to get things moving."

A youthful Harrogate Railway side face a difficult clash at Armthorpe Welfare, who narrowly lost their FA Cup tie against Horden but have won both their games in the NCEL this term without conceding a goal.

Railway, though, will be boosted by their eventful FA Cup 5-4 replay triumph over Whitley Bay on Monday.

"The way we played for 70 minutes was outstanding and if we play like that again and show the same commitment we will get a positive result," said manager Paul Marshall.

"I don't want to concede as many goals in the last five minutes, though."

Nigel Danby leaves a hole at the back as he is unavailable, as are Danny Philpott and Shaun Constable, who is doing his UEFA 'B' coaching badge.

In-form Mark Watkinson is expected to move into Danby's spot. Five Railway players are under the age of 19.

Tadcaster Albion have captain Lee Maguire back in the fold after he missed last week's unlucky 2-1 FA Cup defeat against Northern League big-guns Tow Law Town. Maguire had swapped his armband for the best man role at a wedding.

However, boss Wayne Day is unlikely to ring any more changes after an impressive show.

"They only scored the winner in the third minute of injury time and, other than Lee coming in and one dropping out, there will be no major changes due to the fact we played so well," he said.

Updated: 12:45 Friday, September 06, 2002