CUP specialists Harrogate Railway switch their attentions to the FA Vase tomorrow when they travel to Hall Road Rangers for their first round tie (kick-off 3pm).

Railway, who are just 90 minutes away from an historic tie in the first round proper of the FA Cup, have so far played seven matches in cup competitions - compared to just eight in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

And with so much experience of sudden death competitions, including two major scalps of their own this season, boss Paul Marshall knows his side cannot be complacent against the NCEL division one outfit from Hull.

"It is a case of the roles being reversed," said Marshall.

"We played them in a pre-season friendly and they have got a young side, but I noticed that they beat Bridlington, who everyone has been tipping to win division one, so they have improved."

Having seen his side come on leaps and bounds with their sensational FA Cup run, Marshall is eyeing similar progress in the Vase.

"If you want to win silverware at non-League level, then you can go for the league or for the Vase," he said.

"I don't think we can win the league, but we can have a good run in the Vase - hopefully to the quarter-finals or semi-finals.

"If we can be one of the last 41 non-League teams in the FA Cup, then there is no reason why we can't do well in a competition where we are against sides of a similar standing."

Steve Haddon comes into the squad after switching from Whitby Town, while Peter Wrigley, Sal Njie and Simon Old are given a run out in the Reverses.

Pickering Town boss Jimmy Reid is looking for a big performance from his players when they entertain Denaby in the first round.

Despite seeing his side's 100 per cent NCEL premier division start come to an abrupt end at home to Sheffield in midweek, Reid has refused to wield the axe, opting to give the squad the chance to prove their worth.

"I'm after a big game from the players after Sheffield, I'm looking for a positive response," said Reid, who saw coach Steve Brown part company with the club to take up a post as York City's kit man this week.

"I'm not going to start swinging the axe yet, but things have got to be better than the other night. If I was being really cruel I could have made six changes.

"We need the reaction we got from the Accrington Stanley defeat in the FA Cup.

"This match gives us a chance of a nice little run as we are up against sides from our own standing. It is a good competition to be in."

Reid only makes one change, with talented young right-midfielder Ricky Greening included in the squad.

Greening, whose brother Jonathan was formerly at York and Manchester United before joining York-born Steve McLaren at Middlesbrough, is likely to start on the bench.

Updated: 11:36 Friday, October 19, 2001