PICKERING Town can still take the runners-up spot in the Northern Counties East League's Premier Division by winning their last two matches.

Steve Brown's men travel to sixth-placed Buxton tonight knowing that victory could set up a final-day battle for second spot at Eastwood Town on Saturday.

The Pikes are four points behind Eastwood, who need to win at Liversedge to go into Saturday's clash on level points with leaders Ossett Albion.

If Eastwood lose tonight then Pickering could still steal second place, but even if they do secure a top-four promotion spot they will not be joining the UniBond League.

Brown said: "Finishing second is absolutely the target. If they don't get a result tonight then we have got to try to beat them on Saturday and finish as high as we can because if you don't finish top, second is the next best thing and will still represent a big step forward.

"It's disappointing that we can't go up. We found out that we needed extra seats in the Main Stand in February and were only given until April 1 to do it.

"We would not have got the planning permission required by then and I think they are changing that next season to having a year to make improvements."

Joe Connor is unavailable tonight because of work commitments. Ricky Greening is still sidelined with a groin injury but utility man Matthew Morton is back in contention.

Updated: 11:07 Tuesday, April 27, 2004