IT'S derby day already in the Northern Counties East League premier division as Selby Town face Goole at Flaxley Road in what promises to be a special occasion.

Tomorrow's match marks the 50th anniversary of the Robins' move to their current home and ironically that first game 50 years ago was against Goole.

Selby, who lost 2-0 to Leeds United reserves in a midweek friendly, will be gunning for revenge having lost on three occasions to Goole last season and will be looking to maintain the form that saw them overcome Liversedge 2-0 last week.

Goole lost to champions Brigg Town 1-0 last weekend but bounced back with a 2-0 win over Alfreton on Tuesday.

Selby visit Thackley on Monday.

To say that Pickering Town are itching to get into action is a massive understatement.

But they belatedly kick off their NCEL premier division campaign away to Glasshoughton Welfare tomorrow.

Last week's scheduled start at Borrowash Victoria was called off because the hosts' pitch was unfit and with no game in midweek - nor no fixture for the upcoming Bank Holiday Monday - the Pikes are desperate to make an immediate, albeit delayed, impact at Glasshoughton.

The visitors have an injury doubt over play-maker Alex Wilgrass, who has an ankle injury, while striker Mark Wood has been ruled out for four weeks after having a cyst removed from an eye.

But manager Jimmy Reid, who watched Glasshoughton in action last week, is confident. "If we don't come away with anything then I will be very disappointed."

Harrogate Railway, with two draws from two games, visit Garforth Town tomorrow before entertaining Hallam on Sunday.

Tadcaster Albion will want to follow up last week's super start when they toppled homesters Hall Road Rangers 4-3 with another victory, this time at home to NCEL newcomers Lincoln Moorlands in division one.

In the West Yorkshire League (games kick-off at 2.30pm), Knaresborough Town visit Pontefract SS hoping to extend their unbeaten start to the season to three games.

After drawing 2-2 at Nostell Miners Welfare on the first day of term, Town took maximum points away to promoted Ripon City.

An early brace of goals from Adam Walker put Knaresborough on the right route. Though the deficit was halved by Ripon's Halka, Sal Njie struck a third Knaresborough goal before team-mate Richard Lynch smartly saved a penalty in injury-time.

Nestl Rowntree entertain Wakefield, looking to make it a hat-trick of wins.

Tree's made it two from two in midweek with a 3-1 win over Wetherby, a result which delighted boss Jim Collis as his squad battles against suspensions, work commitments, holidays and injury.

His task has been helped by Pickering boss Reid, who has loaned Collis Pat Gaughan as the striker recovers from a cartilage operation.

"Pat played very well and hopefully the arrangement helps both parties," said Collis.

"It helps him get fit and helps me out while my squad is so depleted. I'm very grateful to Jim, who did a lot of telephoning around for me before the Wetherby game," said Collis.

Brent Terry underlined his return to full fitness after an injury-plagued season by scoring all three goals against Wetherby.

York RI, who began life in division one with a 3-0 defeat by Rothwell Athletic last week, will look to bounce back away to Methley Rangers.

Former Rotherham United defender Dave Merris is back at Wetherby Road to boost Harrogate Town's UniBond League division one campaign.

Merris, who made an inauspicious start to his Harrogate career when scoring an own goal on his debut in September 1999, has spent the summer coaching football in America, but returned this week and has been added to the squad for tomorrow's visit of Witton Albion.

His return could not have come at a better time as fellow defender Peter Atkinson is one of two injury doubts, having pulled a hamstring in midweek.

Craig Elliott is the other doubt with a knee injury, while fellow striker Ian Blackstone is likely to keep his place in the starting XI having come in for David Donaldson for Tuesday's 2-0 defeat of Stocksbridge.

Harrogate have a tough trip on Bank Holiday Monday to Ashton United, who missed out on promotion to the premier division last season by just one point.

TOMORROW'S SQUADS

Nestle Rowntree (v Wakefield, players meet 1.30pm): from Smallwood, Bonarious, Dewhirst, Barley, Cox, Gaughan, Durkin, Bond, Hodson, Carter, Keogh, Ellis, Raynor, Terry, AN Other.

Knaresborough Town (at Pontefract SS): from Lynch, Young, Holman, Ellerker, Anderson, Latimer, Cowan, Clifford, Darvill, Broadwith, Shaw, Njie, Walker, Medley, Wetherell, Brown.

Pickering Town (at Glasshoughton Welfare): from Mitchell, Reid, Riley, Thornton, Sturdy, Connor, Wilgrass, Farthing, Zoll, Wash, McAuley, Dale, Norton, Wilson, Dickinson, G Chapman, J Chapman.

Updated: 11:18 Friday, August 24, 2001