PICKERING Town manager Paul Marshall has flown back from vacation hoping his side don’t suffer post-holiday blues tomorrow as they kick off their season early.

Marshall has previously admitted trepidation about the Pikes’ premature return to action after they were included in the extra preliminary round draw of the FA Cup and given a tricky tie away to Bishop Auckland.

But, after a hectic schedule of friendlies, the last in his absence as he took in some Tenerife sun, he will be hoping they quickly find their feet and form as they eye a money-spinning run in the competition, prior to the start of their maiden season in the Evo-Stik League.

Marshall said following the draw: “It was a bit of a shock finding out we had a game on August 11. We were expecting to miss the extra preliminary round again.

“We’ll go into it without having played a league game, and Bishop Auckland are renowned in the Northern League as a good, strong team, so they will give us a good test.”

The winners of the tie will receive £2,890, which is also the reward for the teams that progresses from the Selby Town v Whickham, Bridlington Town v Harrogate Railway Athletic and Ashington v Knaresborough Town contests.

Pickering, promoted to Evo-Stik division one east last term, completed their pre-season fixtures in midweek with a 3-0 home defeat against Scarborough Athletic.

All the goals came in the second half after Will Annan had been denied by a combination of Town keeper Charlie Andrew and the post before the interval.

The breakthrough came when Matty Turnbull was penalised for handling in the area after an attempted sliding challenge and ex-York City attacker Michael Coulson confidently swept home from the penalty spot.

Sub James Walshaw went on to bag a brace and Boro will complete their pre-season preparations tomorrow with a meeting against Frickley Athletic at the Flamingo Land Stadium, kick-off 3pm.

Tadcaster Albion keeper Michael Ingham, meanwhile, has still not conceded in pre-season with the Ings Lane outfit following up a creditable 0-0 home draw with last term’s Evo-Stik League division one north champions South Shields by retaining the Sonny Cup after a 10-0 triumph over Tadcaster Magnets.

Last term’s Evo-Stik North Keeper of the Year Ingham did see his crossbar tested by Dillon Morse against Shields, but Billy Whitehouse also rattled an upright for the hosts at the end of a flowing move consisting of more than 30 passes.

Against York & District Minster Engineering League premier division side Magnets in the annual contest that is held in the memory of the much-loved Sonny Lang, Aiden Savory hit a hat-trick and he was joined on the scorehsheet by Casey Stewart (2), Lamin Colley, Adam Baker, Mitch Langton, Whitehouse and an own goal.

The Brewers end their pre-season programme at North Ferriby tomorrow before the new campaign kicks off with a home meeting against Carlton Town seven days later.