Evening Press Sport

On the up Scarborough switch their attention from the Conference tomorrow as they aim to take another step towards the twin towers of Wembley.

The Seasiders travel to UniBond League first division outfit Stocksbridge Park Steels in the third round of the FA Trophy.

The competition evokes stirring memories of Boro's great Wembley adventures in the 1970s when, as a non-league side, they won the competition three times.

Despite being drawn away, after going five games without defeat a resurgent Boro will go into the match at Sheffield as strong favourites, with their main concern seemingly to avoid complacency.

Boro are in an excellent run of form with 'keeper Andy Woods setting a new Conference record last week when he registered his fifth successive shut-out in the 3-0 victory at Hednesford, a run lasting some 515 minutes.

With only 21 goals conceded in 23 games this season, the Seasiders have the best defensive record in the 'fifth division' with only seven sides posting a better account throughout the professional game.

In contrast, Stocksbridge are slipping down the UniBond first division table.

Before last Saturday's 1-0 home victory over Belper Town which lifted them to 15th spot they had lost five successive games.

Stocksbridge's league rivals Harrogate Town are also on the FA Trophy trail looking to make swift amends for last weekend's 5-0 home humiliation at the hands of Farsley Celtic.

Seventh-placed Town travel to UniBond premier outfit Spennymoor United and must, despite last week's mauling, fancy their chances of pulling off a shock win.

Spennymoor have won just once in six matches, have not scored in eight games and are 16th in the premier.

A week after losing 3-2 to Sheffield-based Hallam, Harrogate Railway Athletic have a chance to gain revenge over the Steel City in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

Railway welcome the oldest football club in the world, Sheffield, to Station View desperately in need of three points if they are to avoid a swift return into division one.

Mid-table Selby Town travel to take on Railway's conquerors of last week, Hallam.

However, they will be without central derfender Richard Tomlinson, who will be absent for the next couple of weeks because of work commitments. Ian Phillips remains on the injured list with an ankle problem.

In the NCEL division one, improving Tadcaster Albion hit the road to take on Hall Road Rangers while title chasers Goole play host to Parkgate.

Pickering Town will have home advantage for their clash with Borrowash Victoria with manager Jimmy Reid looking for three points.

"At least we are undefeated this century," he joked following last week's battling point at Rossington Main.

"We need the three points. Borrowash are down with us and if we could get a win I think we will be up and running."

In the West Yorkshire League premier division, champions and league leaders Nestle Rowntree travel to Bardsey no doubt anxious to record their first win of the new Millennium.

Despite last week's 1-0 defeat at Beeston, 'Trees remain six points clear of their nearest challengers and a swift return to winning ways could see them extend their lead at the top.

Last week's defeat came courtesy of a Beeston penalty, the fourth spot-kick conceded by Rowntrees this season with penalties accounting for a quarter of all their 16 goals against.

In the same division, strugglers Tadcaster Magnet Sports travel to face York RI in a derby dual at New Lane with RI anxious to maintain their title push.

Knaresbrough Town are involved in cup action again when they travel to Spa Athletic in round two of the Harrogate and District Whitworth Cup.

New Earswick Under-19s are sitting five points clear at the top of the Northern Youth Academy after a tough 1-0 win at Frickley in midweek.

New Earswick's winner came via an Adam Wash free-kick on 35 minutes. It was Wash's 21st goal of the season.

The teenagers divert their attention from the league this weekend when they play host to Farsley Celtic in the quarter-finals of the NYA Cup.

SQUADS

Saturday (kick-off 3pm unless stated)

Nestle Rowntree (at Bardsey, kick-off 2.15pm. Players meet Rowntrees 12.30pm, Ainsty 12.45pm) from Smallwood, Cowl, Graham, Dewhirst, Watkinson, Wain, Durkin, Haddon, Simpson, Smith, Terry, Hodson, Dickinson, Harvey, Ellis.

Pickering Town (v Borrowash Victoria, players meet 1.30pm): from Campbell, Reid, Chapman, O'Reilly, Sturdy, Groves, MacAuley, Morton, Graham, Gaughan, Pemberton, Wood, Connor, Dale, Brown, Wash

Selby Town (at Hallam): Potter, Baxter, Newstead, Oldfield, Turner, Moyles, Wilson, Young, A Cyganb, Amos, P Collier, Proctir, Speight, Hart, P Cygan, Whalley.

York RI (v Tadcaster Magnet, players meet 1.30pm, ko 2.30pm): Adamson, Wilkinson, Knaggs, Barley, Render, Bonarious, Bond, Jackson, Raynor, Cocker, Bilham, Freer, Coxon, Wilson

Sunday

New Earswick U19s (v Farsley Celtic, kick-off 1.45pm, players meet 12.30pm. All players to telephone Jimmy Reid): from Hammond, Reid, Bowles, Wright, Garnum, Vine, Farthing, Mears, O'Reilly, Wash, Riley, Collins, McKay, Wadsworth, Groves, Sturgess, Gray, Arundale, Laws.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.