In-form Parkgate ready for top-end tussle with league leaders

Good test ... for Scott Mason and Parkgate FC.

The two meet at Roundwood tomorrow (3pm), with Gate having won all eight league games and Wombwell 11 of their 12 at the top of Northern Counties East League Division One.

A win would lift the Steelmen to within six points of Town with four games in hand and Scott Mason’s men will go for it in front of what they hope will be a season’s best crowd, particularly without the counter-attraction of a Rotherham United home game.

Gate manager Scott Mason said: “We are expecting a few in. They’re top of the league and doing really well, but so are we to be fair.

"I’ve watched Wombwell a couple of times and know what they’re about. They’ve got Gav Allott up top. I’ve known Gav a long, long time and when he’s on it, he scores goals. He seems to be on it and he’s got himself in the leading goal scorer ranks.

"It’s early days. It’s not a title contention game. It won’t define the season for either of us because there’s 30 odd games left, but it’s a big game at the minute.”

Parkgate go into the match on the back of a good win in the FA Vase last Saturday. They travelled over the Pennines to take on Prestwich Heys and came back with a 2-1 win.

A goal in each half from Josh Nodder and Silas Valladolid-Collins put the Steelmen in control before a late Prestwich reply made for a nervy finale.

Gates’ reward is another trip over to Greater Manchester to take on Atherton Laburnum Rovers, from the Northern West Counties League, on October 21. The Steelmen also host Louth Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Bottom of the table Swallownest, beaten 6-0 by Louth in midweek, chase a first league win at home to second-place Nostell MW tomorrow (3pm).

In the Premier Division Maltby Main, whowent out of the Senior Cup to fellow NCEL side Glasshoughton Welfare on Wednesday, are at home to Pickering Town.