Pikes seize precious league points (From Gazette & Herald)

Pikes seize precious league points

Pickering Town 1, Borrowash Victoria 0; The Pikes, who are now in fifth place, gained their first league win of 2005 after three draws and two cup defeats, against Borrowash, who have not won a league game this season.

Pikes player/manager Alex Mathie was upbeat over their victory. He played for 53 minutes and said that their main priority was to get three points and get back on the championship trail.

At times, he said, the team was knocking the ball about all over the pitch while playing their best football since Selby Town on December 18. His concern was the scoring chances which were created and missed, but was pleased with their opportunities.

The visitors kicked off the game on a very heavily sanded pitch. Carl Silburn replaced Kevin Martin in goal for the Pikes, who took a firm grip on the game. After seven minutes, Dean MacAuley dashed down the right and crossed for Mark Swales to turn and shoot from 12 yards, but keeper Steve Smith saved well.

After 11 minutes, Brian Dutton supplied a great through-ball for Matthew Morton to latch on to. He was chopped down by a defender, but referee David Storrie, of Leeds, waved away the Pikes strong appeals for a penalty.

Four minutes later, a long throw from the left wing by Swales found Rob Eeles. He headed the ball onto Gavin Dickinson, who shot over the crossbar from close range. A minute later, a good Pikes move started by Dutton, meant Swales was in the action again, crossing from the left for Mathie to shoot over the crossbar from 12 yards. Three minutes later Swales was clean through, beating four defenders, but Smith saved well.

The Pikes were now dominating the game and further chances were created before half-time by Alex Willgrass, Swales and Michael McNaughton, whose close range shot was superbly tipped round for a corner. Mathie also came close twice, his first shot was blocked and his second was deflected for a corner.

Borrowash had a couple of efforts by Aaron Brady and Chris McGinty blocked by Dutton. On 44 minutes, McGinty crossed for Pikes' defender Eeles to clear from Lee Bestwick as he was about to head the ball goalwards.

The second half started with the Pikes looking for an all-important goal. Seb Towse, who replaced Mathie, found himself on the ball after a Morton shot rebounded, and he hit an unstoppable left foot shot from 16 yards into the bottom corner.

Borrowash came back into the game for a brief spell. After 79 minutes, Shaun Murphy rifled a 20-yard left foot shot, which went just over the crossbar.

The Pikes hit back, with Dickinson and MacAuley setting up James Drinkall, who returned the ball to Dickinson only for him to shoot wide from 18 yards.

The final minutes were anything but quiet. The Pikes came close when Brunton beat the keeper but another player cleared it off the goal line.

After the game, Pikes assistant manager Sean McGinty said that he thought it was a hard earned three points: "The win was very important to the club. We defended well and the number of chances created was excellent. It was just a case of poor and unlucky finishing in front of goal.

Pickering Town Reserves lost 1-0 away at Pontefract Colls reserves on Saturday. They are away at Eccleshill United Reserves, on Saturday, February 5, kick off 3pm.

The first team visit Hallam tonight, kick off 7.45pm, at the oldest football ground in the world.

On Saturday they are at home to fourth-placed Goole, who are in fourth place and five points ahead, kick off at 3pm.

Then, next week they are away on Tuesday at Garforth Town in the President's Cup quarter final, kick off 7.45pm. It is a replay, after bad weather called off the original match.

Updated: 15:27 Wednesday, February 02, 2005