NESTL Rowntree have slammed Harrogate Railway for allegedly poaching yet another player from their squad without giving notice.

The West Yorkshire League outfit have seen their Northern Counties East League rivals take three players to Station View, with Jimmy Gore following Mark Watkinson and Gavin Dickinson along the A59.

Although the latter has since switched to Pickering Town, Rowntrees have slated Railway for supposedly not going through the proper channels.

'Trees' assistant boss Jon Reynolds said: "There has been no approach from Harrogate Railway at all. The rules say they must put seven days' notice in but we have had no approach at all."

Gore, who played for Rowntrees last week, was a substiture for Railway on Saturday and scored on his home debut on Monday in the 3-1 defeat by Hallam.

Reynolds added: "We are too soft because we should be reporting them and if we don't stop them they could do it all the more. If we don't protest they will get away with it."

However, Railway boss Paul Marshall refuted the claims.

"We received a phone call saying Jimmy Gore would like to try out with us and asking if we'd be interested, and I said by all means. I made no approach at all and have done nothing illegal.

"He helped Rowntrees out last week - and actually asked me if he could - but had been training with us and played for the reserves before our first team."

He added: "If there is a Nestl Rowntree player who I want to sign I would go through that club, which is what I have done in the past. I have not broken any rules.

"If players want to step up to a higher level they do so of their own accord. I can't stop UniBond managers coming to take our players and I don't stop any player who wants to move up and I wouldn't expect WYL clubs to stop their players."

Rowntrees only had 11 players available for Wednesday's defeat at Ripon City Magnets. Reynolds expects to have a bigger quota to pick from for tomorrow's trip to Pudsey, although Alex Dewhirst will be added to the unavailable list.

Nestl Rowntree (at Pudsey): from Smallwood, Bonarius, Hodson, Barley, Cox, Simpson, Durkin, Bond, Rayner, Gaughan, Ellis, Terry, Kehoe, Carter, AN Other. Meet Ainsty 12.45pm, ko 2.30pm.

Knaresborough Town are hoping two new partnerships can help shoot them up the WYL premier division table.

Local lad Neil Thornton and Andy Wilson both made their debuts in Wednesday's 3-3 draw with Horsforth St Margaret's, the former alongside Chris Ellerker at centre-back and the latter in midfield next to former Tockwith team-mate Andy Broadwith.

Town travel to Armley Athletic tomorrow (2.30pm).

In WYL division one, York RI entertain Rothwell Athletic.

Updated: 12:24 Friday, August 31, 2001