PICKERING Town manager Paul Marshall has warned his players to expect their toughest test of the season so far when they visit Northern League first division side Consett AFC in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase, writes Ian Appleyard.

Although both occupy the same tier of the National League pyramid, Marshall says the Northern League is stronger than the Northern Counties East League.

The Pikes visited Barton Town Old Boys in the league last night knowing that victory would see them rise to seventh spot in the table just seven points behind leaders Cleethorpes Town with two games in hand.

Consett, meanwhile, finished seventh last season and were in action against Curzon Ashton of National League North last night in an FA Cup second qualifying round replay.

Marshall said: "This will be our toughest game of the season so far. Consett are a good team who play in a strong league - in fact, they should really be a league above us.

"They have beaten Ryhope Colliery Welfare, who took us to penalties in the FA Cup, and were unlucky to lose to second placed North Shields when I watched them last week.

"They put a hell of a lot of work into their performances and are strong in most areas of the field."

The Pikes extended their unbeaten league run to five games with a goalless draw away at Clipstone last weekend.

Marshall was not unhappy with his side's display but feels they need to create more clear-cut goalscoring opportunities in forthcoming games.

Midfielder Joe Danby went closest to breaking the deadlock when hitting the crossbar from a freekick.

With Lewis Taylor unavailable last weekend, Marshall handed another opportunity to summer signing Robert Chipps and was pleased with the former Harrogate Railway midfielder's contribution.

"Robert's performances have been a real bonus," said Marshall. "He had been released by Harrogate and was planning to go back and play for Dunnington in the York League. But I think he is a decent player. He scored two goals on his debut against AFC Darwen in the last round of the FA Vase and is able to operate as an attacking or defensive midfielder."

Both Taylor and captain Niall Tilsey are available again this weekend after missing the Clipstone game.

The Pikes have also been boosted this week by the return of defensive midfielder Nathan Kamara who missed the first four games of the season serving a suspension and defender Matty Turnbull who has been absent since suffering concussion and a head injury against Washington on August 23.

Marshall is keeping his fingers crossed that new signing Jules Gabbiadini may yet receive international clearance before Saturday's trip to Consett.

Midfielder Gabbiadini, the son of former York City and Sunderland striker Marco, has agreed to play for the Pikes after studying and playing in the USA for the University of Charleston.

Previously on the books at Hull City, Gabbiadini, 22, has been training with the Pikes for over two weeks.

"It's been a bit of a nightmare," admitted Marshall. "But you have to wait up to 30 days for the international clearance. It will be good to finally have him available because he looks a strong player."

The Pikes will be at home next Tuesday, September 27, kick off 7.45pm. The opponents will either be Hemsworth Miners Welfare in the league or Consett in an FA Vase replay, depending on this Saturday's result.

Meanwhile, the Pikes have agreed to host two league representatives fixtures at Mill Lane in the next couple of months.

York League will play the Scarborough League on Wednesday October 5, kick off 7.45pm, and the Scarborough League will play the Teesside League

on Wednesday November 9, kick off 7.30pm.