MAKING history - and not cash - will be the prime motivational force behind Harrogate Railway's approach to their FA Cup showdown with Workington Town.

The Rail entertain their UniBond League first division foes tomorrow in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup with the winners guaranteed a purse of £10,000.

But while such a cash injection is a substantial boost to any non-league club the Northern Counties East League premier division hosts will be driven more by creating a new chapter in the club's folklore.

So decreed manager Paul Marshall, who last year guided the club to the fourth qualifying round of the world's oldest - and greatest - club knockout competition. That equalled the club record first set in 1991.

But Marshall is eager to go at least one better than that and reach the first round proper to blaze a new trail in Rail's history. And he is fired too by the example of his brother Sean Marshall, who as manager of Frickley Athletic even reached the third round of the FA Cup several times.

"We're not as big as Frickley were then, but I've told the players that we have a chance of going on to create our own place in history," said the Rail boss.

"That's why tomorrow's game is a massive one for us. I would love to get through this round and have another crack at a Conference club like we did against Morecambe last season.

"But I would love it even more if we could get into the first round proper. So it's not really about money, it's about being part of history."

Railway might well have already secured a place in the competition's history after so far conceding 14 goals in seeing off a Northern League trio of Whitley Bay, Esh Winning and Chester-le-Street en route to tomorrow's spat with Workington.

But while they have yielded so many goals they have also smacked in no less than 21 deservedly earning them the tag of 'the entertainers'.

Added Marshall: "We do need to tighten up at the back, but we've shown we can score goals and it's that brand of attacking football that is bringing in the crowds to our Railway View ground. We hope we can play in the same vein against Workington."

Rail's only major absentee is leading scorer Steve Davey, who is still recovering from a broken jaw. That puts the attacking onus on the front two of Kevin Smith and Matty Flynn, but Rail have another weapon in their armoury.

Likely to be among the substitutes is 17-year-old raider Andy Sunley, who has come off the bench to devastating effect this season. "He's hit four goals in the five games he has come on," enthused Marshall. "He's only small but he has got the knack of scoring vital goals."

The knockout task ahead of Rail's neighbours Harrogate Town could not be much more daunting.

Town travel across the Pennines to tackle UniBond League premier division high-fliers Accrington Stanley also in the third qualifying round. Some 16 places separate the rivals with the homesters unbeaten after 16 games and topping the premier rankings by five points.

But while Town will be bidding to recover from a midweek 4-1 mauling by Stalybridge Celtic manager John Reed insisted it will be a confident side he leads out at the Crown Ground.

"Accrington are flying while we are struggling near the bottom. They are expecting a 2,000 crowd and they are a very strong side," said Reed.

"But this is the FA Cup and it throws up wobbly results now and then. So we will be going there upbeat.

"We are not going there to lay down. We want to win our club £10,000 and get into the draw for the fourth qualifying round."

Unfortunately for Reed he could be missing several key men, including ex-Bradford City and Hull City centre-back Nicky Mohan.

Signed from Gateshead, Mohan was one of the few successes on his debut in the midweek fall to Stalybridge.

"He slotted in superbly and we are expecting big things from this lad, though he is cup-tied for tomorrow's game," said the Town boss.

Skipper and striker Robbie Whellans is also out after failing to respond to treatment to a groin injury, while one-time Leeds United defender Dylan Kerr is rated highly doubtful with a calf injury.

Away from the cup Pickering Town travel to Ossett Albion in the NCEL premier division seeking to end a run of eight games without a win.

Hosts Ossett are currently unbeaten, their latest victims being Goole Town, who were swamped 4-0 last weekend.

But Brown was heartened by an improvement in his ranks, explaining: "We are going through a spell of transition, but we are not a million miles away. We just need one or two things to click."

Defender Chris Kamara is unavailable as he is playing for Doncaster Rovers' Under-19s, while there will be a late fitness test for goalkeeper Kevin Martin, who twisted an ankle last week.

But striker Alex Wilgrass and midfielder Adam Wash will return.

Selby Town are also on their premier division travels, journeying to Glasshoughton Welfare.

The Robins' immediate task will be to erase the memory of last week's 5-1 home humbling by Harrogate Railway, which deepened a poor start to the current campaign.

Tadcaster Albion too go on the road in the NCEL first division, where they will be entertained by Worsborough Bridge.

Updated: 10:58 Friday, October 11, 2002