Harrogate rivals Town and Railway will want to put talk of a merger behind them as they bid to climb further away from the drop zones of their respective tables.

Town chairman Bill Fotherby this week reiterated calls for the two clubs to join forces, with his comments coming after an emergency board meeting at Wetherby Road in which Graham Shepherd resigned as director of football in the wake of his own pro-merger declaration.

Fotherby apologised for the way Shepherd stoked the controversy without the backing of the board, although he then put his own logs on the fire by revealing his own wishes for a merger.

However, manager Mick Hennigan will want his players' minds trained on the immediate job, namely a home clash with Trafford in UniBond League division one tomorrow, which is subject to a morning pitch inspection.

Talk of a merger has made little impact at Station View, where Rail-way entertain Alfreton in the Northern Coun-ties East League premier division tomorrow.

Chairman Dennis Bentley poured cold water on the idea earlier in the week, saying his club wanted to keep their own identity, while manager Paul Marshall today said: "I'm more interested in getting us moving up the table."

The Rail lost 1-0 at Ossett Albion in a West Riding Cup tie on Thursday, picking up three injuries in the process.

Defender Steve Hartley (hamstring) and striker Matthew Flynn (knee) are doubtful for tomorrow's clash, while skipper Danny Ames will have a late test on a knee.

Alfreton are a big, experienced side and Marshall's men will have to keep a tight rein on marksman Cain Cheetham, who netted a hat-trick against Railway last season.

In a rearranged NCEL premier division match, Selby Town travel to lowly Armthorpe expecting to bounce back from the 2-0 midweek West Riding County Cup defeat by Goole.

The Robins, who have blown hot and cold all season, will want to find the form which saw them enjoy a 2-0 league victory over promotion-seeking Brigg Town last Saturday, while Goole will expect three points from their match at home to mid-table Thackley.

Pickering Town boss Jimmy Reid is hoping his charges can bounce back from their FA Carslberg Vase defeat at Marske United, where an understrength side fell foul of controversial refereeing decisions and lost 2-1.

Reid is still upset at the second round exit in which he had to field two 16-year-old substitutes and debut goalkeeper Adam Mitchell, as a number of players were unable to make the trip after the tie was postponed seven times.

"I was disappointed it ended like that and disappointed with the referee, who was on first-name terms with their players.

"They deserved to beat us as they were the better team on the night, but we went up there with nine or ten players out, and had to put youngsters and Dean MacAuley, who has played just 45 minutes in ten weeks, on the bench.

"However, we took a lot out of the game, and one plus point was the display of Danny Farthing, who will now make his full league debut."

Farthing, who has been asked to return to Hillsborough after a successful trial with Sheffield Wednesday Under-19s, was the player harshly adjudged to have handled the ball in the box, leading to Marske's controversial spot-kick winner.

But Reid was not apportioning blame and the youngster will start tomorrow's rearranged game at home to Rossington Main, should the match get the go-ahead after heavy rain.

The Pikes lie second in division one with games in hand over leaders Hull Road Rangers and third-placed Pontefract Collieries. Reid, who has several players returning, added: "This is a critical time for us, and we need to build on what we've done in the league up to now."

Lowly Tadcas-ter Albion were due to host Borrowash Vic-toria in the NCEL division one, but flood damage at their ground is still putting paid to fixtures there and the club have not been able to rearrange an away game for this weekend.

Champions Nestl Rown-tree entertain Pontefract Sports and Social in the West Yorkshire League, with Alex Dewhurst back in the fold after two weeks' absence through work.

Second-placed Nestl have scraped to single-goal victories in their last two games and boss Jim Collis is looking for an improved display following last week's 3-2 defeat of Wetherby Athletic, in which they had trailed 2-1.

"We can't always play nice football on the heavy pitches, but our lads have proved in the last few games that they can battle when things aren't going for us," he said.

Knaresborough Town, 2-1 losers to Nestl a fortnight ago, travel to take on Wetherby in the WYL Premier Division Cup.

Wetherby's pitch, however, may not be playable, so the first round tie could be switched to Knaresborough, who see Adam Walker return to the fold after suspension, although he is unlikely to start.

York RI are also in cup action, at Whitkirk Wanderers. RI threw away a 3-0 lead in the last half hour at home to Sandy Lane last week, and boss Brian Wilkinson, still without the suspended Luke Bilhom, said: "We have to concentrate for the full 90 minutes.