Tables turned on Welfare (From Gazette & Herald)

Tables turned on Welfare

NCEL Premier Divison

Pickering Town 3 Glasshoughton Welfare 0

An improving Pikes team gained revenge last Saturday for their two-goal defeat at Glasshoughton earlier this year.

The Pikes were missing key players such as Danny Farthing, Dean MacAuley and Phil O'Reilly but illustrated their strength in depth with a three-goal win and a clean sheet.

Glasshoughton had the first chance of the game, Jason Bradley shooting over the bar from 18 yards after nine minutes. Two minutes later, Pickering's Luke Ibbotson beat three men and crossed for Gavin Dickinson, whose shot from was well saved by keeper Paul Brennan.

Glasshoughton's Danny Sheriffe almost scored with an overhead kick after 21 minutes but the Pikes took the lead after 43 minutes. A long clearance by keeper Kevin Martin found Mark Wood, who flicked the ball onto Ibbotson who smashed the ball home from 20 yards with his right foot - a great time to score just before the break.

In a livelier second half, Wood was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle after Brunton's shot was only partially saved by Brennan after 50 minutes.

The Pikes had a fright on 56 minutes when a right-wing cross from Sheriffe was diverted onto his own goalpost by Matthew Morton before he cleared for a corner.

The Pikes' crucial second goal came after 73 minutes. After good build-up play between Brunton, Dickinson and Joe Connor, Ricky Greening crossed for Dickinson, who cracked the ball from 25 yards into the top corner.

Carl Fox and Steve Parker had efforts saved for Glasshoughton but the Pikes sealed the points deep into stoppage time when Ricky Greening crossed from the left, Ryan Crawford chested into the path of Ibbotson, who fired home from 16 yards with an excellent strike.

Brown said: "It was good to see Luke get two goals as he has been playing well but not scoring. All our goals were well-worked and clinical finishes. We rode our luck once or twice but we defended well and to keep a clean sheet against the league's top-scorer was particularly pleasing."

On Saturday, the Pikes visit Hallam before facing FA Vase finalists Brigg Town on Tuesday, April 8, at Mill Lane (7.45pm kick-off)

Pikes team: Martin, Morton, Brunton, Eales, Chapman (Rhodes, 64 mins), Willgrass, Dickinson, Crawford, Ibbotson, Wood (Greening, 69 mins), Connor.

Liversedge 2

Pickering Town 0

The Pikes got off to a nightmare start last night when, on what was a slippery surface, keeper Kevin Martin slipped twice to let a Liversedge striker in to score after just two minutes. Pickering were dealt a further blow soon afterwards when Luke Ibbotson had to come off after being winded. Town had several half-chances as Wood and Greening went close but they went further behind with 20 minutes left.

Steve Brown said: "We showed a lot of endeavour and had a lot of possession but there was no end product. We'll be looking to play better when we face them at home."

Pikes' skipper Alex Willgrass is currently serving a seven-day suspension, having clocked up five cautions. He missed last night's game at Liversedge and will miss the trip to Hallam.

Pickering Town reserves beat Pontefract Collieries' reserves 1-0 at home last night with a goal from Jonathan Beech. Last Wednesday, the reserves lost 2-1 at Thackley reserves in the League Cup to a late winner after Andy Crawford had equalised for the Pikes. They face Eccleshill United this Saturday at home.

Updated: 14:34 Wednesday, April 02, 2003