Tadcaster Albion must defend better if they are to beat Pickering Town in tomorrow’s crunch Northern Counties East League premier division derby, says boss Paul Marshall.

The Brewers take on one of the division’s form sides at the Recreation Ground – a Pikes team high on confidence after thumping second-placed Parkgate 4-0 in the NCEL League Cup third round in midweek.

Taddy lost 4-3 against Armthorpe last Saturday and while Marshall was not too disheartened with the result, he believes the team, as a group, needs to be tighter defensively.

“We haven’t defended as well as we should have and it has cost us dearly,” he said. “As a group, we have not defended well enough. Part of that has been missing Andy Dawson and I think that was the first time we have conceded four goals.

“It was great entertainment for anyone who paid to watch a game of football. We knew it was going to be hard to win this league. There’s a massive step up between the premier division and division one and we have exceeded all expectations. But we don’t want the season to just tail off.”

Dawson, in Australia, is still missing for Tadcaster, who are also without Nick Thompson.

“That leaves us a bit light,” Marshall. “But, as a squad of players, we will be attacking again. That’s what we know how to do. We will try to score goals and it could be an entertaining game for the fans. It is going to be a really tough game. If we put our best foot forward we can win and everyone is looking forward to it.”

Pickering boss Mitch Cook is still without midfielder Billy Logan, who will serve the second of a three-match ban but he is unlikely to make too many changes following their impressive display against Parkgate.

“We performed really well,” Cook said of that game. “We took our chances and finished them off at the end. The pleasing thing was keeping a clean sheet against two of the leading goalscorers in the league.”

On Tadcaster, he added: “They are new to the league and have had a great run. They have been in the top half most of the season, have had a bit of consistency about them and look like a progressive club.

“We drew there 2-2 and we expect it to be tough. Derbies always are. Form doesn’t really come into it but we have been on a good run. We are playing well.”

Selby Town must forget their 5-1 hammering at Bridlington when they entertain Dinnington in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

Adam Lee was their only goalscorer as former Robins striker Steven Lyon netted and Craig Hogg picked up a hat-trick. Selby will hope to make amends against a Dinnington side which have recorded just 13 points from 27 matches and are second bottom of the division.

Harrogate Town are up against AFC Telford at Wetherby Road in Blue Square Bet North, while Harrogate Railway host Warrington Town in Evo-Stik League division one north.