AMBITIOUS North Yorkshire rivals Pickering Town and Selby Town are eyeing a move up the football pyramid.

The duo are among a quartet of Northern Counties East League premier division sides to apply for promotion to the higher UniBond League.

With just one place likely to be on offer to the NCEL, the battle between Pickering, Selby, Glapwell and Armthorpe is likely to go down to the wire.

Glapwell are currently in pole position as they occupy second place in the premier division, with Pikes fourth, the Robins fifth and Armthorpe languishing in mid-table.

Surprisingly, leaders Winterton and third-placed Liversedge have not applied to the UniBond League, leaving the door ajar for the chasing pack.

Both Selby and Pickering are now awaiting an inspection from league officials, when they will learn of the changes they need to make to meet the criteria for promotion.

Pickering chairman Tony Dunning is keen to bring the club's Recreation Ground up to scratch, regardless of whether or not they are successful.

"We are just waiting for the inspection now," he said. "I think we have got to put fencing up to fence the cricket pitch off during the football season and we need to improve the toilets.

"We will get the work done and then we are ready if we get the chance to go up. We have applied before, but not when we've been in the frame.

"We don't know yet how many teams will be promoted - it could be only one or it could be more. We've got the ambition because we need to make progress.

"If you don't do anything, you will end up going backwards. Our league position is good and now we've got to get things moving."

Selby have been unfortunate to miss out on elevation over the last three seasons.

Last year, four teams were promoted and the Robins finished in fifth spot, an agonising point out of the frame, while the previous season they were also edged out.

Goole were promoted at their expense three seasons ago, when one team was chosen and Selby finished second.

Assistant boss Gary Cygan is hoping it will be fourth time lucky.

He said: "It's definitely an ambition of the club to get there and it is also an ambition of Bob Lyon, the manager.

"A lot of it is down to facilities and some clubs feel they can't afford to go up. There is a lot of travel in the UniBond and that can sometimes put clubs off.

"Winterton are top and they have not applied, so we need to finish above Glapwell, Pickering and Armthorpe."