NATIONAL recognition is the immediate target of northern lights Tadcaster Albion.
Established as top dogs in the Northern Counties East League premier division Tadcaster turn to the FA Vase tomorrow and a chance to power into the last 32 nationwide.
To achieve that cherished place they will first have to see off third round host St Helens in a Roses clash that promises a sack-ful of goals.
Both sides are pitched at the same status of football's pyramid. But where Tadcaster head their NCEL premier peers, St Helens are languishing in 18th place in the North Western counterpart.
After having the Saints watched and reported on, Albion manager Paul Marshall said: "They score a lot of goals but they also concede a lot and with us scoring plenty of goals then it should be an open tie.
"The big prize for us is to get into the last 32. It would be a great achievement for the club to get into the all national round. I've told the lads this is our year to have a right crack at winning the FA Vase."
Matthew Sparkes will return to the squad and could well replace defender George Bissett, who is unavailable for the trip to Lancashire.
Striker Carl Stewart is awaiting the results of a scan on an injured knee, so remains a doubt but Marshall said he had ample firepower to fuel the tilt at the Vase.
"Josh Greening is back in the goals, Josh Barrett bagged two in the cup against Selby, while we also have Nick Thompson and Callum Ward," he said. "We are not shot in the goals department."
Sterling consecutive performances yielded no hard-edged profit for Selby Town, so manager Dave Ricardo has turned to pragmatism.
Ahead of tomorrow's testing NCEL first division trip to Clipstone, the Robins manager declared: "Our aims have not changed, but the main issue is to get results. Results are everything now."
The 3-0 defeat to Bottesford last weekend - the visitors' Craig Bridge bagging all their goals in the last 14 minutes - left Ricardo downcast, though not at his team.
"We were the subject of some contentious refereeing decisions," he insisted.
"Alan reed made a clean tackle but was sent off and then they go and score from the resulting free-kick.
"We had many chances to have gone two or three goals up before they scored, but while I am pleased with the performance which came on the back of a great display against Tadcaster Albion, I am not pleased with the results of those two games."
Personal reasons have ruled out Andy Jackson, while Liam Wilkins is still out injured for tomorrow's trip to Nottinghamshire to face a side who went second in the league after a midweek triumph.
Elsewhere in division one, Knaresborough host Winterton Rangers on a high after their 6-0 hammering of hosts Hall Road Rangers last week.
Harrogate Town also have the benefit of a heavy win to take into their Conference North derby at home to Bradford Park Avenue.
They beat Thackley 4-1 in midweek to advance to the West Riding County Cup semi-finals with a brace of goals for both Louie Swain and Adam Nowokoski.
Scarborough Athletic entertain Kendal, while Harrogate Railway head to Lancaster in the Evo-Stik League first division north.
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