Pikes held to 1-1 away draw (From Gazette & Herald)

Pikes held to 1-1 away draw

Glasshoughton Welfare 1, Pickering Town 1

To kick off their busy month of fixtures, the Pikes visited 17th place Glasshoughton Welfare, which is never an easy place to visit with its bumpy, slippery pitch.

Overall this was not one of the Pikes' better performances due to their long lay-off over Christmas and the state of the pitch. It was good that the spy from Brook House, the Pikes FA Vase opponents on January 22, picked this game to watch as he will return south with little positive knowledge in his notebook.

After just two minutes the Pikes could have taken the lead when Alex Willgrass crossed from the left for Matthew Morton to head wide of the goal.

Glasshoughton also came close but Michael McNaughton headed the ball off the line.

Willgrass kept up the pressure, going close again, as did Stephen Swales, who had a fine 20 yard shot well saved by Codd.

Glasshoughton took the lead after 11 minutes, when Dean MacAuley caused a penalty to be awarded by referee Richard Holdsworth (Burley-in-Wharfdale).

This goal gave the home side confidence and for the next 20 minutes they were on top with several chances but all denied by Pikes keeper Kevin Martin.

The last ten minutes of the first half saw the Pikes get back into the game and they should have gone in at half time at least level.

Mark Swales dribbled the ball into the penalty area and laid the ball to Gavin Dickinson who turned and shot from eight yards but it was deflected for a corner. This time, Mark Swales took a shot which went over the crossbar.

The game wasn't without controversy. After 39 minutes home defender Alex Hanson appeared to handle the ball. The referee was not well placed and looked to his assistant John Key who waved play on. Moments later, play was stopped and Willgrass cautioned as he continued to argue with the referee.

In stoppage time at the end of the half Seb Towse linked up well with Willgrass and Danny Brunton, whose nice left wing cross found an unmarked Gavin Dickinson some six yards from goal, but his left-foot shot hit the crossbar.

The second half saw both sides go close in the opening fifteen minutes, with Towse and Morton going close for the Pikes.

In the last half hour the Pikes took a firm grip on the game. After 62 minutes Willgrass crossed for Morton to see his shot from eight yards go over the crossbar.

There was more dispute as Towse suffered a shocking foul but the referee just gave a free kick where it was a definite cautionable offence. Towse took it but found his effort cleared. Willgrass followed up but was also denied.

The Pikes drew level after 68 minutes when Brunton linked up well on the left wing with Towse whose superb cross found Mark Swales who scored the all-important goal with a simple tap-in from close range.

It was all the Pikes after that. McNaughton aimed a header straight at keeper Codd. Towse had a 20-yard shot go over the crossbar and another that was tipped round for a corner. Liam Salt also took a shot from 15 yards but it sailed wide.

The last five minutes saw both sides have a good chance. Willgrass crossed from the left for Brian Dutton to almost score with a diving header but the ball went just over the crossbar.

All in all, a draw was a fair result on the day but the Pikes could, and should have, won with chances created.

With this draw, the Pikes drop to fifth as Sheffield won 5-1 away at Buxton to move to fourth. Current league leaders Harrogate Railway lost 2-0 at home to Liversedge. Second-placed Selby Town beat Brodsworth MW 4-1 away, and third-placed Goole beat Armthorpe Welfare 2-0 at home.

On Saturday the Pikes are at home to league newcomers Shirebrook Town (kick-off at 3pm). Before Monday's games Shirebrook were eighth. On Monday they entertained Thackley and the game ended goal-less. Shirebrook beat the Pikes 2-1 on the opening day of the season at home, when Ricky Greening was the Pikes' marksman.

The Reserves return to league action on Saturday with a game at Ossett Albion, kick-off at 3pm.

On Tuesday, January 11, the Pikes are at home to Sheffield in the League Cup third round, kick-off at 7.45pm for a place in the quarter finals.

FA Vase opponents Brook House moved up into second place in the Ryman Isthmian League on Saturday, after a 3-0 home win against Hertford Town, who were second but now drop to third.

The Pikes team was as follows: Martin, S Swales, Brunton, Baxter, Eeles, McNaughton, Willgrass, MacAuley, Dutton, Morton, Salt, Towse, M Swales and Dickinson.

Updated: 12:12 Wednesday, January 05, 2005