WHILE the spotlight might be on York City's perilous financial position and their fairy-tale FA Cup run, in Pickering it is the FA Vase which has caught the imagination.

The Vase - exclusively for the lower echelons of the football pyramid - may not have the glamour or attention which follows the FA Cup, but for Pickering Town tomorrow's clash against Jewson League premier division outfit Tiptree United will be just as good.

The game will be the biggest in the respective histories of both Town and their Essex-based opponents as neither have reached the fourth round before.

But with a place in the final at Aston Villa's Villa Park now within touching distance, neither side will want to let slip now.

Both sides enter the game in indifferent form, but Pikes' boss Jimmy Reid believes his side will just have the edge.

"They've hit a bad patch at the same time as us, but I saw a lot I like on Tuesday (in the 1-1 draw against Goole). There was a lot of character so hopefully I can build on that," he told the Evening Press.

"We've got a few players back, hopefully I can get (Phil) O'Reilly on the pitch along with Alex Wilgrass, so things are looking good.

"At the end of the day, my boys can put themselves up against any team, at any time and perform, but they are just unpredictable at times."

York's FA Cup tie against Grimsby saw 6,638 cram into Bootham Crescent, while a capacity 9,534 is expected for the next round against Premiership big-spenders Fulham.

But at Mill Lane, a more modest attendance is expected, with Reid hoping for a crowd of around 300 to cheer on his side.

"I'd like to ask the people of Pickering to come along," he said. "It is not so often that you get a side to come this far, so it would be nice if we had a big crowd to cheer us on."

However, the gate money will come as a big boost for the club, who have already racked up £1,600 in competition winings.

But it is at this stage of the competition where things get more exciting, with a further £6,800 available for going all the way to the final and a bumper cheque of £5,000 for the winners.

Reid has named a 17-strong squad for the clash, with Simon Sturdy definitely out and O'Reilly doubtful.

Wilgrass, who has just come back from a spell on the sidelines, could start.

The threat from Tiptree, who travelled to York today, will lie with attacking midfielder Steve Daly and striker Dave McKrory, who have grabbed 18 goals between them this season.

Updated: 12:25 Friday, January 18, 2002