Pickering Town bid to go one step beyond tomorrow in the oldest football competition in the world.

The Pikes travel to St Helen's, of the North West Trains League first division, in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.

A win will not only guarantee Pikes a trip to UniBond premier division outfit Guiseley in the next round but will secure the new-look squad a place in Pikes' history.

"The club has never been beyond this round before so that is something to aim for," said manager Jimmy Reid, who has been courting information about tomorrow's opponents from his counterpart at Chester-le-Street.

St Helen's beat their North East opponents, currently bottom of the premier division of the Northern Premier League, 3-1 in the preliminary round while Pickering dispatched Horden Colliery, top of the NPL division one, 4-1 at the Recreation ground.

"Those results offer a good pointer," said Reid. "The manager at Chester-le-Street said St Helen's had a couple of good players but thought they were beatable.

"Guiseley would be a great tie for us and I wouldn't have any fear of going there."

With Mark Wood and Matty Morton returning from holiday Reid has a full squad from which to select.

The only other team from the region still harbouring Wembley dreams, Harrogate Railway, travel to Brigg Town.

Buoyant Railway overcame Willington in the preliminary round 1-0 thanks to a goal from Ian Hart and also beat Thackley 2-1 on Bank Holiday Monday thanks to a late, late goal from Hart again.

But Brigg, undefeated so far this term, will prove a stern test.

Third in the Northern Counties East League premier division last year they are currently top after beating Selby Town 2-0 at Flaxley Road on Monday.

Back in the bread and butter of the league, Selby, still looking for their first win of the current campaign, take on Buxton in a rearranged fixture due to the FA Cup.

Buxton led the table in the early stages of last season before slipping away badly to finish in the lower reaches.

Selby will be looking for a repeat scoreline of last year, when they won both games 1-0.

Buxton made another good start to this campaign with a 3-1 opening day win over Garforth but since then they have lost five games in a row.

Robins' manager Bob Lyon will be without both Nicky Cass and Chris Collier who are suffering from anbkle injuries while Darren Sheridan is still on holiday.

In Division One of the NCEL, Tadcaster Albion have still to register a point and currently prop-up the table after three defeats.

Manager Wayne Day will be looking for a change in fortunes at Borrowash Victoria who were thumped 5-1 by Goole last week despite being tipped to mount a serious title challenge this season.

Fresh from that big win, second-place Goole face table-toppers Hall Road Rangers in the match of the day in division one.

Both sides are undefeated but Rangers are top courtesy of a single point having played a game more.

In the West Yorkshire League premier division, champions Nestl Rowntree welcome Knaresborough Town to Mille Crux for an early derby duel.

'Trees bounced back from last weekend's defeat against Horsforth with a midweek 6-0 win over Wetherby and boss Jim Collis will be looking for his side to maintain that sort of form.

There remains a doubt over Steve Haddon, however. The pre-season recruit from Whitby Town picked up a knock in Wednesday's win although striker Stuart Greenwood may be available to soften the blow for Collis.

Despite yet to record a win this season, Town will be looking to repeat last season's upset when they consigned a 'Trees side, blighted by two sending-offs, to one of only three league losses with a 5-0 win.

Town welcomed back Paul Hood and Darren Clifford in Wednesday's 1-0 defeat at Horsforth from holiday and injury respectively but will be without full-backs Nigel Young and Glynn Bailey tomorrow due to suspensions.

Tadcaster Magnets, beaten by joint table-toppers York RI 2-1 in midweek and with just one win from their opening four games, are at Aberford Albion.

RI have no game tomorrow after the decision of Horbury Town to resign from the League.

In the Nationwide Conference, third-placed Scarborough welcome free-scoring Kingstonian to the McCain Stadium.

Boro's defence will be in for a stern test against the Ks, whose 2-1 win over Hayes on Monday saw them climb to sixth on ten points, just one behind the Seasiders.

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker David Leworthy has already bagged seven goals this season to earn him the goalscorer of the month award.

Ks manager Geoff Chapple has just signed a five-year deal that will keep him at the club where in his last two years he has earned them promotion to the Conference, FA Umbro Trophy honours as well as taking them to eighth in the league last year - their highest ranking in senior soccer.

But Boro, fresh from their 1-0 win over Morecambe on Monday, will also be boosted by the news they won the league's Performance of the Month award for their opening day 5-0 thrashing of Yeovil Town.

In the UniBond first division, the FA Cup means Harrogate Town are without a game until Tuesday when they welcome one of the most famous names in football, Accrington Stanley, to Wetherby Road.

On Sunday, New Earswick Under-19s start their second season in an enlarged Northern Youth Academy at Fields of Bradford.

Manager and Pickering boss Jimmy Reid is keen to make a better start to this season than last, when four straight defeats effectively killed any hopes of winning the title.

Despite that poor start, the teenagers rallied to finish a creditable fourth and runners-up in the League Cup.

"I'll be happy with a point," said Reid. "We will be going there prepared but we are probably a game and half away from being 100 per cent."

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