TADCASTER Albion boss Jim Collis has labelled the Northern Counties East League fixture list ridiculous ahead of his side's first of two quick-fire clashes with fellow high-fliers Sutton Town.

Taddy - fresh from the media circus of their match against Garforth Town and Socrates - visit Nottinghamshire side Sutton tomorrow and then entertain them next Saturday in consecutive division one clashes.

Furthermore, they have played several away games on the trot, leaving the club with no gate receipts for some time but high travelling costs.

Collis said: "We play them tomorrow and again next week, which is stupid. The fixtures are ridiculous. I thought we'd play them again in two or three months, not straight away.

"And we've had all these away games - this will be our fourth trip to Nottingham within a few weeks, including night matches.

"We've only played four or five league games at home out of 12, and every cup match seems to be away which doesn't help."

Collis was otherwise delighted with his side's progress into promotion contention, the club having previously spent years in the doldrums.

"I thought it would take over a year but it's shaping up now," he said. "There's still room for improvement but we're doing well.

"The lads are enjoying it and trying to play football. You would have thought in the second half last week that we were the Brazilians."

He added: "Sutton must be a good side. For me they're an unknown quantity, all I can go by is the table. But that doesn't alter my attitude - we're going there for a win."

The title race in the premier division is also hotting up.

Goole look likely to bolster their lead as they visit whipping boys Borrowash, while third-placed Harrogate Railway should stay in touch as they visit other strugglers, Armthorpe.

However, Rail boss Martin Haresign (pictured below) will be without three first-teamers and is aware of the dangers of complacency.

Striker Graham Marchant is unavailable, left-back Phil Turner is suspended for one game and midfielder Lee Ryan broke a bone in his foot last week and will be in pot for a month.

Said Haresign, who will bring Jason Day off the bench into midfield: "We're on a bit of a run and don't want to change much but we have to. Lee and Andy Shuttleworth in the middle of the park have been running the show for us, so we're going to miss that partnership.

"It's less of a problem up front. Graham has come off the bench and scored a few, but we've got a few strikers we can call on."

He added: "We don't want to be complacent. We last lost two months ago and want to keep that run going."

Second-placed Selby Town and fifth-placed Pickering Town have perhaps trickier afternoons as they entertain Mickleover and Buxton respectively, two teams also camped in the top half.

Updated: 10:59 Friday, November 26, 2004