Will history repeat itself for the Pikes? (From Gazette & Herald)

Will history repeat itself for the Pikes?

This Saturday could see Pickering Town make club history by progressing passed the fourth round of the FA Vase.

It's a point the club has got to twice before under previous manager Steve Brown. Having been replaced by Alex Mathie, the team recorded 10 successive victories before Christmas.

Sadly, 2005 hasn't got off to as good a start, with draws or losses the order of the day and one match with Glasshoughton being postponed because of bad weather.

Mathie admits the break did not do the team any favours: "The two week break over Christmas wasn't needed because we were on a roll and we've now lost a bit.

"The cancellation of the Glasshoughton match threw us. We should have won the other Glasshoughton game. We've set our standards high and a draw isn't good enough."

The 'anything but a win won't do' attitude was at its most evident after the loss to Sheffield in the third round of the League Cup on January 11. It clearly riled the team, and Mathie was said to be furious afterwards.

The Pikes faired better last Saturday, when they fought for a draw at Sheffield. The team had a dreadful first half with the players getting another ear-bashing at half-time from Mathie.

Sheffield took the lead after 11 minutes when the home side left full back Stavros Kontou supplied a perfect through ball for Chris White to run on to unchallenged and score with a 15-yard angled shot past the advancing Pikes keeper Kevin Martin.

In the second half, the Pikes levelled after 53 minutes, thanks to an own goal scored by Jon Hobson following nice passing between Matthew Morton and Gavin Dickinson.

They took the lead moments later when a free kick was awarded by assistant referee. Dickinson struck with his left foot and sent the ball into the top corner.

Sheffield scored again from a hotly disputed penalty while in stoppage time, and the final whistle left the sides having to be content with a point each.

Mathie said: "In the Sheffield game on Saturday, we played poorly in the first half but in the second we played well. We had eight minutes of extra time and scored because we had the run of the green."

Last night the Pikes were deal a further blow as the President's Cup match at Garforth Town, and the reserves' match at their home ground were called off because of the weather. While it could be further upset for the players, it gives them the chance to rest up ahead of Vase game

On the day, their current run of form will have to be put as far from the players' minds as possible when they entertain Brook House from Hayes in Middlesex, who are currently second in the Ryman Ismthian League.

Brook House have had scouts watching the Pikes closely for their last few games, none of which have exactly given the game away about home side's true ability.

What has become clear in the run-up to the Vase game is that the Pikes have earned a lot of respect within their own league and have some unexpected supporters.

"I've had managers of other teams in the league wish us luck," said Mathie. "Just to progress to the last 16 would be great, the Vase is a bonus."

Even with their pre-Christmas success, Mathie wasn't prepared to put his money on which way the game would go. Looking purely on performance, the Pikes are in for a rough ride as Brook House have won all three of their January games.

"Brook House are on a high at the moment," says Mathie, "whereas we're in a bit of a slump. We have injuries with key players that we're trying to get prepared for Saturday. It's been hard to get people to practice because we've had Tuesday and Saturday matches, and everyone works and has family."

The injury list will not be helping Pikes fans' nerves. Ricky Greening was put on after he broke down warming up ahead of the reserves' 2-0 defeat to Harrogate Railway. Alex Willgrass, Brian Dutton and Seb Towse are all struggling to be fit. Michael McNaughton, however has been confirmed to play.

Whatever the outcome of the Vase match, the Pikes seem to constantly have achievements to obtain, whether it's making club history or getting promotion at the end of the season. A few weeks ago Pikes' chairman Tony Dunning applied for promotion into the Unibond League if they manage to top the Northern Counties East table.

After applying, Dunning said: "If you haven't applied to go up then it is hard on everyone involved, so this season we have gone for it.

"It will be great if we can achieve promotion, but we will have to wait and see what the next few months bring."

Naturally, Mathie also supports the action: "There was a meeting between management before Christmas when we decided we'd apply. It's given the boys a boost, but we've got to win the league first."

Currently nine points behind league leaders Selby Town, making history could be the boost the Pikes need to get them fully back on form.

The fixtures for Pikes' first and reserve teams in February are: (first team) 2nd Hallam, away; 5th Goole, home; 12th Arnold Town, home, or fifth round of the FA Vase; 15th Glasshoughton, home; 19th Thackley, away; 22nd or 23rd President's Cup semi-final; 26th Armthorpe Welfare, home. Reserve team: 5th Eccleshill Utd, away; 12th Garforth Town, away; 19th Pontefract Colls, home; 22nd or 23rd Reserve League Cup semi-final.

Updated: 14:27 Wednesday, January 19, 2005