PICKERING Town manager Paul Marshall has billed this weekend's trip to Bridlington Town in the FA Vase as a clash of the title contenders, writes Ian Appleyard.

Marshall is ready to lock horns with Bridlington manager Curtis Woodhouse – the former Premier League footballer who turned to boxing a decade ago and won the British super-lightweight title.

Woodhouse has won five consecutive games since taking over from Gary Allanson, while Marshall had won nine games out of ten as Pickering manager prior to last week's 4-2 defeat against Albion Sports.

The two local rivals have yet to meet in the Northern Counties East League premier division but are level on points in fifth and sixth place respectively.

"It promises to be a cracking game and I am sure there is going to be a massive crowd because we are playing it on Sunday rather than Saturday," said Marshall.

"In my opinion, both of us will be in there battling it out for the league title at the end of the season – we are both good teams.

"I don't know Curtis personally but he has done a good job since taking over at Bridlington. We know what they are all about and we are looking forward to this tie."

The Pikes had no game on Saturday due to Pickering's annual 'Wartime Weekend' but were in League Cup action last night against Hall Road Rangers.

Defensively, the Pikes have been outstanding and played over 12 hours without conceding a goal until last Tuesday's defeat.

"We have been very solid at the back and the goalkeeper has been playing well, so it's been a recipe for success," said Marshall.

"We didn't play too badly against Albion Sports but it was not our day. It was a probably a good time, at the weekend, to have a little rest."

Marshall planned to rotate his squad last night with a view to keeping players fresh ahead of the FA Vase.

Midfielder Jules Gabbiadini was set to make his full debut and teenage centre-back Owen Marshall, the manager's nephew, was due to be on the bench for the first time since joining the club this summer.

Former York City midfielder Nathan Kamara starts a suspension against Bridlington after his dismissal for violent conduct against Bottesford Town on October 8.

Marshall said: "Nathan's absence is a big loss. He is frustrated about it because he is going to miss some big games."

If Sunday's game is a draw, the replay will be held at Mill Lane next Tuesday night, kick-off 7.45pm.

The Pikes' next league game is at home to seventh-placed Handsworth Parramore on October 29, followed by games next month against a clutch of top-ten rivals.

Marshall said: "By the end of November, we will have had our title credentials seriously put to the test. If we can get through those fixtures unscathed, we will be in a healthy position."

The Pikes' home defeat against Albion Sports last Tuesday was only the club's second in the league this season.

The visitors took the lead on 12 minutes when a cross by Asif Hussain was converted by the unmarked Omar Habeeb.

Joe Danby almost equalised when his 30-yard shot was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Mark Bower – but the visitors doubled their lead on 25 minutes when a superb through-ball by Karl Hall found Danny Facey, who ran on and scored.

Kamara pulled a goal back for the Pikes after 40 minutes following a good pass by Robert Chipps.

The second half saw the Pikes pressing for an equaliser but Ryan Cooper missed the target from just six yards. Lewis Taylor's corner also found Kamara but his effort was deflected wide.

The Pikes turned up the pressure with 15 minutes to go and Bower pushed a good effort from substitute Gabbiadini for a corner.

But Albion increased their lead in the 81st minute when Hussain scored with a deflected shot from over 20 yards.

Rhys Jenkinson made it 4-1 after Facey's initial shot came back off a post but Pikes substitute Alex Robinson reduced the deficit two minutes from time.

Pikes (v Albion Sports): Wells, Ingram (Gabbiadini 75), Danby, Chipps, Turnbull, Tilsley, Taylor (Robinson 81), Cooper, Blott, Kamara (Dalton 66), Parker. Substitute not used: Bissett. Crowd: 142.