TABLE-TOPPING Harrogate Town know they are the team everyone now wants to beat in division one of the UniBond League.

Having moved a point clear, with three games in hand, after Saturday's 1-0 win over title-challengers Leek Town, John Reed's men have put themselves in the position to be shot at.

The first to take aim will be struggling Workington, who, despite their lowly position in the table, will be out to raise their game for the visit of the leaders.

The Cumbrians are just above the drop zone, having won only five games in 22 attempts, while Town are unbeaten in their last 19 league ties - their only defeat coming in the opening week of the campaign.

"It is a brilliant feeling to be top, absolutely brilliant, but we've got to realise that puts us under pressure now," said Reed.

"We've achieved nothing and done nothing yet and we've got to be careful not to fall into the trap of letting slip all our hard work.

"Workington will be very tricky for us. I know they are only five or six places off the bottom and on paper they are not as good as us, but they will raise there game."

New signing Darren Beasley, who has joined from Scottish League First Division side St Mirren, will come into the squad for the trip.

Pickering Town boss Jimmy Reid will ring the changes for the trip to Borrowash Victoria in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

Reid has opted to switch things around after the Pikes suffered a 3-0 reverse against big-spending title rivals Alfreton Town - a result which left him disappointed.

Matty Russell, who has Football League experience with Halifax and Scarborough, and his 19-year-old brother Adam, a former York City junior who has just signed from Goole, are added to the squad and will play some part in the tie.

Meanwhile, York City youth team goalkeeper John Collinson will join Pickering on loan later this month.

Collinson, 18, has already had spells on loan at Selby Town, Gateshead and Whitby Town earlier this season.

He well spend more than a month playing matches for the Pikes, between January 18 and February 28, although his training will still be done at City.

Selby Town remain well immersed in the battle for the title, despite having played five more games than Pickering.

However, the Robins face a difficult-looking encounter against a resurgent Liversedge side as they seek to sustain their challenge.

Selby have already faced Liversedge twice this season, winning 2-0 in the league but losing 2-1 to the Clayborn-based side in the West Riding County FA Cup.

Harrogate Railway, who have had mixed fortunes since their well documented FA Cup run, face another side going for promotion when they travel to Arnold Town.

However, victory for the Station View outfit could strengthen their position in mid-table.

Railway, who have not played since the 7-3 demolition of Eccleshill on December 15, will be without Danny Ames and Steve Davy (both holiday), but on-loan striker Darron Morris remains at the club.

Boss Paul Marshall said: "We really need a game of football at the moment as we haven't played since we beat Eccleshill.

"It has been a shame as we were on a run where we'd scored 14 goals in a week and that is the sort of run you want to keep going, but I guess we will have to start all over again now."

Goole Town face a must-win clash when they travel to Buxton.

The Derbyshire outfit are currently bottom of the pile but they are only five points behind their nearest rivals, so victory for the hosts would haul Steve Richards' men back into the danger zone.

Wayne Day knows his Tadcaster Albion side will need maximum points from their tie at Staveley to keep them clear of the wrong end of the NCEL first division.

Taddy are just three points ahead of tomorrow's hosts, but a win would give them a much-needed buffer at the start of a new year.

Nestl Rowntree are without a game in the premier division of the West Yorkshire League this week, but Knaresborough Town travel to Nostell Miners' Welfare.

Updated: 12:10 Friday, January 04, 2002