PICKERING Town manager Paul Marshall hopes this weekend's FA Vase clash against Shildon will attract the biggest gate of the season to Mill Lane, writes Ian Appleyard.

Striker Billy Logan is set to start on the bench for the Pikes after re-signing for the club on Wednesday morning.

Logan, 26, stepped away from semi-professional football two summers ago after becoming a father.

The Pikes have beaten Bridlington Town, Consett AFC, and AFC Darwin to reach the second round and are now six victories away from the final at Wembley.

Marshall, who guided Tadcaster Albion to the quarterfinal stages of the competition two seasons ago, knows that Northern League side Shildon will be regarded as favourites but is looking to upset the odds.

"Winning the FA Vase is probably the biggest thing on the agenda for the Northern League clubs," he said. "Other than playing North Shields or South Shields, this is probably the toughest draw we could have landed.

"They will be desperate to progress and we are the big outsiders," he added. "But, as a manager, I have produced cup shocks before and I will do it again."

Around 150 supporters have been attending games at Mill Lane this season and the biggest attendance was 239 for the opening league game against Worksop Town.

However, with top professional clubs on the 'international break' this weekend and both York City and Scarborough Athletic on the road, the club is keen to attract new fans and break the 300 barrier.

Although currently sixth in the Northern Counties East League premier division, the Pikes have games in hand on all the clubs higher up the table and have won 13 of their last 16 games in all competitions.

Defensively, they have been in superb form and last weekend's 1-0 victory at third-placed Liversedge secured a 10th clean sheet from 14 league games.

Opponents Shildon are currently fourth in the Northern League first division but will go top of the table if they win their six games in hand.

Significantly, they are in action tonight against league leaders North Shields -which could help the Pikes who have no midweek game.

Marshall, meanwhile, is planning to hold talks with Goole Town winger Will Waudby this weekend about a possible move to Mill Lane.

Waudby has only been with Goole a few weeks after leaving Bridlington Town.

Former Pikes defender Matty Turnbull has told the Gazette that 'footballing reasons' were the only motivation behind his recent move to Scarborough Athletic.

Pikes manager Marshall had expressed 'disappointment' over Turnbull's departure - which arose after he turned out for Old Malton St Mary's reserves in a York Minster Engineering League game.

But Turnbull, who is expected to line-up for Scarborough against Droylsden this weekend in Evo-Stik First Division North, said: "I moved because it was an opportunity to play at a higher level of football. I don't want anyone thinking I left under a 'dark cloud' because, as far as I am concerned, that was not the case.

"I didn't want to look back and regret not taking the chance," he added. "I enjoyed my time at Pickering Town and I want them to win the league this season."