FORMER York City striker Mark Wood will start a five-week ban this weekend when Pickering Town entertain Mickleover Sports.

Wood was sent off in the Pikes' second match of the season for foul and abusive language and will now be missing for a key period as the Mill Lane outfit aim to cement their position among the Northern Counties East League premier division pace-setters going into the New Year.

Manager Steve Brown has been preparing for the suspension but is hoping that such severe punishments may soon be reviewed, bringing the non-League game more in line with professional football.

He said: "It is ridiculous really and I hope that next season we will be in line with everybody else instead of the archaic system that is now in place where you can lose somebody for eight or nine matches for swearing."

Brown is satisfied with his squad's ability to cope in Wood's absence and is set to hand Scott Emmerson a starting place on Saturday with fellow forwards Adam Russell and Brian Dutton also waiting in the wings after impressing for the reserves.

The Pikes' other change against Mickleover will see Joe Connor restored to the side in place of James Drinkall, who is unavailable.

Fourth-placed Pickering will be hoping to maintain their unbeaten home league record against mid-table Mickleover.

Harrogate Railway boss Martin Haresign will give a debut to new loan signing Lyle Hillier against Glapwell.

Stiker Hillier has joined on a temporary basis from Haresign's former club Farsley Celtic and will go straight into the Railway team.

But front two Ian Blackstone and Steve Davey will keep their places, meaning the home team could switch to a three-pronged attack.

Railway are also hoping that midfielder Liam Gray will have recovered from a heel injury to take on Glapwell.

Victory for 15th-placed Railway will see them leapfrog Saturday's opponents in the table.

Selby Town travel to Hallam, who will be looking to improve a poor home record of one win in six games.

Leaders Brigg, who are four points ahead of second-placed Selby but have played two games more, travel to lowly Arnold Town.

Tadcaster Albion will be bidding for their second away victory of the season when they travel to division one's bottom club Staveley Miners Welfare.

Updated: 12:02 Friday, November 07, 2003