PICKERING Town will look to make club history tomorrow as they attempt to reach the last 16 of the FA Vase.

The Pikes have never before gone past this fourth round stage, having got there three times in recent seasons, the latest being last term, when they lost to Brook House from Middlesex.

Tomorrow's opponents, Tavistock, hail from Devon and the last thing Pickering would want is the ordeal of a long-haul replay.

Pikes boss Alex Mathie, who has asked for a big crowd to get behind his side, said: "We don't want to be going all the way to Devon. It would be great to get the club past this hurdle."

The game arguably represents the club's biggest this season, even though they are in the Northern Counties East League premier division promotion race.

And they will be favourites to progress. Tavistock lie 11th in the Carlsberg South Western League, winning six and losing four of their 13 games so far. Last season, they finished 15th out of 17.

Added Mathie: "I would like to have better form but I've got a full squad to pick from except for Alex Wilgrass.

"I've got to make sure I make the right decision. There are 22 or 23 players to choose from but I can only pick 16."

Updated: 10:21 Friday, January 20, 2006