TADCASTER Albion boss Paul Marshall has admitted his team are "massive favourites" to reach the last 16 of the FA Vase.

The Brewers have landed a fourth round home draw against Stafford side Brocton, who currently lie 17th in the Midland League standings.

Brocton, known as the Badgers, have only won one league match on the road all season and, having been founded in 1937, are currently enjoying their best-ever run in the Vase by far.

But Albion's visitors to Ings Lane on Saturday, January 17 were Midland Combination premier division champions last season before that league merged with the Midlands Alliance.

The Badgers have also already scored 19 goals in their four Vase ties this term, seeing off Kirby Muxloe (5-4), Rocester (6-3), Pegasus Juniors (3-1) and Bolehall Swifts (5-0).

On his team's next challenge, Marshall said: "I don't know a lot about them but we have got until January 17 to get them watched and we won't be taking anything for granted just because they are struggling in their league. I don't know a great deal about the quality of football around there.

"We did play a team from Nottingham that were in that league a couple of years ago in the Vase and won quite easily. The top two teams in their league - Long Eaton and Basford - also played in our league last season and we were always competitive against both of them.

"But the beauty of the Vase, once it gets to the national stages, is you never know what you will be facing so you have to prepare correctly. We wanted a home draw. That was the most important thing because they will be coming here to play a team that's bang in form.

"We will be massive favourites to win the game, but that means nothing and there's a job to be done on January 17."

Albion won 4-2 at St Helens Town in Saturday's third round tie with Josh Greening (two), Nick Thompson and Denny Ingram netting.

On the performance, the Brewers boss added: "We did well enough. They were young, energetic and chased around, but we got a couple of goals from set-pieces and had a bit more about us.

"We weren't brilliant and I was a bit disappointed to let in two goals but, overall, it was a case of job done and we showed our quality."

Tadcaster are back in action tonight with a Northern Counties East League home clash against Cleethorpes Town.

Defender George Bissett returns to the fold while ex-pros Jonathan Greening and Ingram will be making their final appearances before serving three-match bans.

"It would be good if they can go out with a bang because we will miss them both," Marshall pointed out. "Denny has been brilliant for us over the last 18 months and Jonno has been great since coming here this season, but I've always said that whoever steps in from the bench is as good as what we've got on the pitch."

Should Albion win this evening, they will open up a ten-point gap at the top of the table having completed exactly half of their league programme.

"After losing the first game of the season to go that far ahead just before Christmas would be great credit to the boys because they have worked so hard to put themselves in this position," Marshall said. "Replicating that during the second half of the season will be hard because they have been outstanding winning some games comfortably and fighting like hell to get the points in others but, if we do, we know it will be more than enough.

"We are just looking at Cleethorpes now though. They had a great result at Pickering over the weekend winning 6-2 and I will be talking to Tony Hackworth about them before the game. I also saw them against Bridlington when they were unlucky to lose 3-0."