Pikes' Vase hopes dashed (From Gazette & Herald)

Pikes' Vase hopes dashed

FA Vase, Round Four: Pickering Town 1, Brook House 3

Pickering Town have crashed out of the FA Vase competition at the fourth round stage for the third time in the past four seasons.

This time they were leading with less than three minutes of normal time remaining before Brook House equalised. The away side then scored twice in extra time in the last minute to reach the last 16 for the first time in their 31 year history.

Brook House started out as the better team. The first 10 minutes saw the visitors well on top but their only chance was created when Jerome Periera combined well with Ryan Kirkland down the right, and crossed but there was nobody there to take advantage.

The Pikes' first attack came after 10 minutes when a long throw by Mark Swales was met by a back header from Rob Eeles which went just over the crossbar.

A minute later the visitors went close twice when Chris Owens hit a 35-yard left foot shot which Pikes keeper Kevin Martin tipped over for a corner. Then from the resultant corner Simon Whall shot but Steve Swales cleared the danger.

The Pikes had a good spell after 14 minutes. Danny Brunton took a free kick from the halfway line which found Eeles, whose header was deflected for a corner, which was taken by Alex Willgrass. Dean MacAuley went close with a shot which again was deflected for a corner which Eeles captured and went close with a fine header. And four minutes later Mark Swales took another of his long throws which found Liam Salt, whose effort was blocked.

The last 20 minutes of the first half saw Brook House looking very strong. Owens set up Whall who found an unmarked Chris Fermie, but his header went straight into Martin's arms.

The away side had full-back Craig Vargas cautioned for a bad, late foul although referee Alan Blair (Wallsend) played a superb advantage - when play was stopped he called the player to him and showed him the yellow card. A 20-yard right foot free kick taken by Jamie Mitchell was well saved by Martin.

In stoppage time at the end of the half, Martin made a brilliant save tipping the ball for a corner from a Dean Gay 14-yard shot after a good build-up by Danny Murphy and Whall. The corner came to nothing for the first half to end goal-less, with the visitors having the better of the play.

The second half started superbly for the Pikes as they took the lead after 46 minutes. Brian Dutton collected the ball in his own half, beat three men and supplied a superb through ball to Mark Swales who blasted the ball into the corner of the goal in front of the Recreation Club from 15 yards with his right foot. A better start could not have been expected for the Pikes.

Four minutes later a right wing corner taken by Gavin Dickinson saw Dutton racing in, but as he was about to head the ball goalwards, the visitors keeper Keiron Jimmy punched the ball to safety. A second Pikes goal then would have killed the opposition.

Brook House then had a good 10 minute spell with Gay, Whall and Kirkland all going close. Whall's effort hit the top of the crossbar before going out for a goal kick.

The Pikes had skipper Alex Willgrass cautioned after 61 minutes. Brook House then had a couple of good chances which fell to Owens and Gay. Martin punched away Owens' efforts, and Gay's went just over the crossbar.

The Pikes, who were now sitting far too deep in defence, were restricted to the odd attack. After 68 minutes Steve Swales supplied a good crossfield pass to substitute Seb Towse, who crossed for Dutton to have a good shot blocked. Two minutes later Dickinson and Towse combined well down the left for Towse to cross to Mark Swales, who took a shot but Jimmy saved well.

Four minutes from the end of normal time, Dutton and Towse set up Danny Brunton, who ran into the penalty area but his effort went wide.

Brook House equalised after 87 minutes. A long ball from the left wing by Murphy saw Martin, under no danger, go up for the ball and drop it at the feet of substitute Marion Stuart who poked the ball into the empty net for a very fortunate equaliser in front of the Gazette & Herald stand to force extra time.

The first period of extra time saw Dickinson go close for the Pikes. Owens and Whall came near for Brook House but neither sides had any goals to show. The second period of extra time followed a similar pattern until the last minute.

Brook House took the lead after 119 minutes when Gay scored with a superbly struck 20-yard left foot shot and a minute later a second goal scored by Marion Stuart gave Brook House a well-deserved 3-1 away victory and a place in the last 16.

The Pikes must now put all their efforts into winning the league and gaining promotion into the UniBond League after chairman Tony Dunning confirmed their application to the Football Association. The club are awaiting news of a probable ground inspection in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, Tuesday night's game against Brodsworth MW has had to join the list of the Pikes' matches which will need to be played later in the season. It was decided the ground was too bad to play on after a pitch inspection was held earlier yesterday afternoon.

On Saturday, the Pikes are at home in the league to Borrowash Victoria, kick-off 3pm. The Reserves, whose game last Saturday was cancelled owing to the FA Vase game, will be away at Pontefract Colls, kick-off 3pm.

The President's Cup game at Garforth Town which was postponed on Tuesday last week has been re-arranged for Tuesday, February 8, kick-off 7.45pm. The Reserves' quarter final Reserve Cup game with Yorkshire Amateurs which was also postponed on the same night will now be played on Tuesday, February 1, kick-off 7.45pm at home.

The Pikes team on Saturday was as follows: Martin, S Swales, Brunton, Eeles, Ramm, Morton, Willgrass, MacAuley, Baxter, Dutton, Salt, Towse, M Swales and Dickinson. There were 317 people in attendence.

Pickering Town have launched a Sand Sponsor appeal. The club are having to undertake a major drainage project on their ground in the summer. At least 40 tonnes of special sand are required, so the club have launched an appeal for people to sponsor a tonne of sand at £20 per tonne. Anyone interested in helping should contact Tony Dunning (01751 472627 or 473697) or David Ellis (01944 758836).

Updated: 12:42 Wednesday, January 26, 2005