HARROGATE Town will be hoping 13th is not an unlucky omen for them tomorrow as their new-found form comes under scrutiny at high-riding Bradford Park Avenue.

Town's 1-0 win at North Ferriby United last week lifted them to 13th in the UniBond League division one table, their highest position this season, but they will be given one of their toughest tests against promotion-seeking Bradford.

The cash-laden West Yorkshire club have recently underlined their bid for promotion by splashing out £10,000 for Frickley striker Andy Hayward.

Harrogate assistant boss John Reed said: "We're the highest we've been all season and that's a boost to us, but this will be a fantastic test.

"A club doesn't pay £10,000 for a player without knowing what their intentions are. And with the kind of wages they pay out they should be looking at going into the premier division."

Town's chances haven't been helped by injuries to Rob Nevis (hamstring) and on-loan Chester City midfielder Andy Sheldon (groin), but Reed remained confident his side could shock the hosts.

Reed said: "I'd rate them no more than 50-50 for the game, so there might be a chance for a couple of fringe players to start the game.

"This is a big game for us but since I came to club (in November) we've lost just one in ten and confidence is high. We might just surprise them."

Meanwhile, striker Stefan Zoll will continue playing for Northern Counties East League club Pickering Town despite having signed for Harrogate.

The two clubs came to an agreement which allows him to play for the NCEL division one leaders when required.

Reed said: "Stefan will play midweek for us in which we will have a look at him, but he will continue at Pickering. Jimmy Reid (Pikes' boss) rates him highly and he was kind to say we should have a look at him.

"We will not interfere with Pickering's crucial matches."

Zoll, who was also a target for UniBond League rivals Ossett Town, is in the Pikes' squad that visit Worsborough Bridge tomorrow in a rearranged NCEL division one game.

Pickering had been scheduled to play third-placed Mickleover Sports but the West Yorkshire side are in FA Vase action, meaning the Pikes face the same team that they beat 1-0 at the Recreation Ground only seven days ago.

Mark Wood scored the decisive goal then but picked up a back injury and is a doubt for the rematch after missing Tuesday's Wilkinson Sword defeat of Tadcaster Albion.

Pat Gaughan, who set up two goals in the midweek 4-1 win, suffered knee ligament damage towards the end of that game in a tackle which saw Lee Maguire receive his second yellow card, and is also a doubt.

In the same division, Tadcaster Albion's home game with Pontefract Collieries has been postponed as Ings Park is still not fit following the floods.

Harrogate Railway Athletic boss Paul Marshall is set to make changes to his line-up despite watching his in-form NCEL premier division side beat leaders Brigg Town 2-1 last week.

Dean Wilson is expected to return to the centre of defence, freeing Danny Ames to move back into midfield, while left wing-back Ian McLean returns from suspension. Ian Edwards will switch over to right wing-back, taking the place of the unavailable Matthew White.

"Bringing Wilson back makes us stronger in defence," said Marshall.

"We were brilliant last week but we've been magnificent for the last two months. This time last year we had ten points, now we've got 24 and we are only seven points off the top three.

"The team spirit is up through the roof. The players are so lively and bubbly. We've just got to keep our feet on the ground, go into every game with the right attitude and just keep going."

Premier division rivals Selby Town have been rocked by the news that Dexter Tucker could be out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.

Tucker broke his shoulder in March last year and this new injury has ruled him out since before Christmas. He will now see a specialist.

Stuart Lee should be fit for Selby's trip to Eccleshill, where a victory for the Robins could hoist them to fifth place.

Elsewhere, third-placed Goole will expect to land three points from their home match against struggling Staveley.

West Yorkshire League premier division basement side York RI visit Sandy Lane no nearer knowing who there new chairman or general manager will be.

The club had hoped to find replacements for departed Steve Alford and Nigel Rhodes, but first-team boss John Raynor - who may also step down if a new manager is found - said there had been no further developments.

Raynor will be without Chris Rowan, who pulled a hamstring in last week's 4-2 defeat by Beeston St Anthony's, and Colin Raynor, who is unavailable.

WYL champions Nestl Rowntree don't have a game, while rivals Knaresborough Town visit Wetherby Athletic in round two of the Harrogate and District Whitworth Cup (kick off 1.30pm) looking to end a run of three straight defeats.

Tomorrow's squads

Harrogate Town (at Bradford PA): from Hill, Allen, Nevis, McNaught, Hudson, Bairstow, Kerr, Atkinson, Singh, Merris, Ordsley, Underwood, Elliott, Dunn, Featherstone, Roden, Sheldon.

Selby Town (at Eccleshill Utd): from Potter, Roberts, Tomlinson, Clayton, Forrest, Turner, Croad, Oldfield, Baxter, A Cygan, P Collier, Gladwell, Reidford, Howard, Pickles, Lee.

Harrogate Railway (at Glasshoughton Welfare): from Old, Edwards, McLean, Tye, Wilson, Walker, Ames, Gray, Middleton, Smith, Flynn, Whalley, Williams, Smitheringale.

Pickering Town (at Worsborough Bridge): from Mitchell, Reid, Sturdy, Thornton, Cressey, Wilson, Farthing, G Chapman, Connor, Dale, Wood, O'Reilly, Gaughan, Wash, Zoll.

York RI (at Sandy Lane): from Hammond, Freer, Keenleyside, Knaggs, Bonarius, Bilhom, Cocker, Barley, Bond, Jackson, O'Shaughnessy, Thornton, Bartlett.

Knaresborough Town (at Wetherby Athletic): from Jackson, Holman, Ellerker, Latimer, Anderson, Clifford, Kitching, Cowan, Sutton, Shaw, Njie, Binks, Buck, Kenton. Kick off 1.30pm.

Updated: 11:59 Friday, January 19, 2001