Archive - Friday, 23 February 2001


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Superb Sturdy strike sees Pikes take the three points

Yorkshire Amateurs 0, Pickering Town 1

PICKERING Town completed their first ever league double against Yorkshire Amateurs on Saturday with a 1-0 victory in Leeds. It was a case of three points won on a lottery of a pitch which made good, stylish football impossible.

After just four minutes, Stefan Zoll, playing against his former club, found his way into the referee's notebook with a yellow card.

The best move of the first half came after seven minutes when Zoll set up Alex Willgrass, whose 20-yard shot went inches wide. Ten minutes later, a right-wing corner taken by Willgrass found Simon Sturdy, but his effort went just wide of the target.

On the half hour Zoll and Mark Wood combined well, with Wood's perfect return pass setting up Zoll, but the home keeper Peter Taylor saved well.

The Pikes took a deserved lead after 52 minutes. A left-wing free-kick taken by Willgrass found an unmarked Simon Sturdy who scored with a superb 18-yard left-foot shot which flew into the roof of the net.

Twelve minutes from time, Zoll wasted a good chance after a fine build-up by Willgrass and Paul Wilson.

Former Harrogate Town and Scarborough player Michael McNaughton made a very impressive debut at the centre of defence, although Danny Farthing wasthe Pikes' man of the match.

"The most important thing was to get the three points," said manger Jimmy Reid afterwards.

"We didn't play particularly well, but you've got to remember the lads hadn't kicked a ball for three weeks.

"And with the under-19s winning and the reserves winning it was a good week all round for the club."

Pickering Town: Mitchell, Reid, Chapman, Wilson, McNaughton, Sturdy, Farthing, Willgrass, Zoll, (O'Reilly, 78), Wood (Wash, 63), Cressey (Thornton, 78).

The Pikes visit Rossington Main on Saturday, kick off 3pm, and next Tuesday, February 27, are at home to Louth United in the quarter-final of the Wilkinson Sword Trophy, kick off 7.30pm.

Updated: 17:06 Friday, February 23, 2001