Nestl Rowntree management duo Jim Collis and Jon Reynolds were facing the toughest challenge of their reign after they were forced to call off their West Yorkshire League premier division clash against Carlton Athletic due to a lack of players, writes Tony Curtis.

The club, which has been among the top sides in the league in recent years, made the decision to call off the fixture at 8pm last night - as they could only raise eight players for the match.

Assistant-boss Reynolds told the Evening Press he was without 14 first-team players and that this was a worrying situation for the club to be in.

"At lunch-time yesterday I had a squad, but by 8pm last night I had just eight players," he said. "You just aren't going to find five players to fill the squad at this time on a Thursday night.

"This is the first time we've had to do this, and ringing the league to call it off was a terrible thing to do.

"Other than York City, we are the biggest team in York yet we can't raise a team.

"The signs aren't good, we are hoping that this is just a blip, but we will have to re-address the situation next week.

"We've got just five games left of the season, so we will have to see what comes from these - it is all very embarrassing."

The news comes in a season that has already seen York RI pull out the West Yorkshire League for failing to fulfil its fixtures.

Pickering Town boss Jimmy Reid is looking at bringing in new faces to freshen up his squad before the end of the Northern Counties East League season.

With 14 games left, starting tomorrow with the visit of premier division rivals Glapwell, Reid "has one or two irons in the fire" as he looks to build towards a serious push towards promotion to the UniBond League.

Two unnamed UniBond players are lined-up to come in on loan in the interim and could be signed in time for tomorrow.

The Pikes will have Phil O'Reilly back in contention for the Glapwell game, although Mark Wood is doubtful with cracked ribs.

Harrogate Railway travel to Sheffield with the same squad which drew 1-1 with Brodsworth last week.

Jimmy Gore is back from his holiday, but he is likely to play for the reserves, giving the 17-year-old front-man Andy Sunley, who impressed on his debut, a second outing on the bench.

Selby Town could inflict further misery on struggling Buxton when they travel to the Derbyshire-based team.

Buxton remain rooted to the bottom of the table and in severe danger of dropping down.

Having despatched of Borrowash Victoria last week, Goole will attempt to see off another struggling outfit when they travel to Glasshoughton Miners Welfare.

Former Glasshoughton manager Wayne Day will look to lead his current charges at Tadcaster Albion further towards division one safety when they travel to second-from-bottom Staveley.

Harrogate Town need just 22 points from their remaining 13 games to be assured of the UniBond League division one crown.

And John Reed's men, who have only lost twice in the league all season, will aim to cut that to 19 when they welcome Matlock to Wetherby Road.

Ossett Town, currently in third and 15 points behind Town, currently have the best chance of overhauling the runaway leaders.

Reed has swooped to add two 19-year-old Doncaster Rovers players to his squad, with left winger Ryan Willians and right-back Dean Milligan joining from Belle Vue.

Brian Ross and Scott Bonsall are both missing through injury.

Tomorrow's teams:

Harrogate Railway (at Sheffield): Neale, Tye, Danby, Walker, Hartley, Watkinson, Moores, Ames, Haddon, Davey, Hart, Smith, Wilson, Morris, Sunley.

Selby Town (at Buxton): possible, Code, Render, Tomlinson, Turner, Hart, Wain, Clayton, Crode, Bollands, Amos, Cygan, Baxter, Carmody, Saddler.

Pickering Town (v Glapwell): Martin, Mitchell, Reid, O'Reilly, Sturdy, Vasey, Chapman, Connor, MacAuley, Farthering, Morton, Zoll, Wash, Dickinson, Willoughby, Crawford, Wood, Beech.

Harrogate Town (v Matlock Town): Connor, Atkinson, Ball, Aspin, McNaughton, Hudson, Ord, Merris, Stansfield, Donaldson, Whellans, Blackstone, Dunn, Albery, Williams, Milligan.

Updated: 11:39 Friday, March 22, 2002