Pickering Town's rivals for the Northern Counties East League division one title, Borrowash Victoria, missed out on the chance to go top last night as they lost 4-2 at Mickleover Sports.

The result keeps alive Mickleover's faint hopes of catching Vics for the second promotion spot. Borrowash, however, still have three games in hand on their Derbyshire rivals, and two in hand on leaders Pickering, who are two points ahead and are already guaranteed promotion.

The Pikes, who won the Wilkinson Sword Trophy on Tuesday night, will go further ahead in the table tonight if they beat Gedling Town in their penultimate fixture of the campaign (kick off 7.30pm).

Pikes boss Jimmy Reid said: "Obviously Borrowash are still big favourites to win the title, but we will not throw the towel in until it's mathematically impossible to win it.

"We'll try to win our games and put the pressure on them. There's still a bit of football to go yet."

With Phil O'Reilly doubtful with a foot injury, Reid adds James Brown to the squad to offer midfield cover. Jon Arundale drops out.

Pickering Town: from Mitchell, Reid, Sturdy, Thornton, Connor, Morton, Gaughan, Farthing, O'Reilly, Wood, Wash, Zoll, J Chapman, Wilson, Dale, Brown.

Meanwhile, Pickering Town Under-19s are preparing for a massive weekend as their Northern U19s Alliance League title bid hits crunch time.

The Pikes lie second with 33 points, two behind Guiseley, with both Farsley, who have two games in hand, and Emley three points further back.

And this weekend they play three games, starting with vital clashes at Guiseley and Emley on Friday (ko 7.45pm) and Saturday (2.30pm), respectively. Then on Sunday they entertain Eccleshill United (2.30pm) at Old Malton's Gannock ground.

They also have to play Farsley next week as they bring their season to a packed conclusion with three more games in six more days.

With such a busy schedule planned, every registered player is asked to phone boss Gary Farthing (on 07974-352981 or 01904-330755) or first team manager Jimmy Reid (on 07733-393945) tonight to let them know about availability.

Selby Town are in action in the NCEL premier division tonight, playing host to Glasshoughton Welfare (kick off 7.30pm).

The game will be the Robins' ninth game in just 22 days, still leaving them with three more games to play before the season's end, which has been extended to Wednesday, May 9 due to the fixture backlog throughout the league.

Harrogate Town entertain Radcliffe Borough in the penultimate game of their UniBond League division one season tonight (kick off 7.45pm).

Goalkeeper Chris Hill, whose season had seemingly ended because of injury, is set to play despite needing a hernia operation, while Chris Clegg is also added to the squad as boss Mick Hennigan looks to rest some players.

Assistant boss John Reed said: "Hill will have his operation next week but thinks he can get another game out of the season."

Harrogate Town: from Hill, Allen, Martos, Atkinson, Ball, McNaughton, Hudson, Ord, Bairstow, Hine, Shelton, Merris, Underwood, Richards, Elliott, Severn, Featherstone, Zoll, Singh.

Updated: 13:05 Thursday, May 03, 2001