Pikes hit back to grab a late point (From Gazette & Herald)

Pikes hit back to grab a late point

Pickering Town 1 Glasshoughton Welfare 1; Following their shock defeat to Arnold Town on Saturday, Pikes gained a fortunate late point against lowly Glasshoughton last night in front of a crowd of 89.

The Pikes started well, and after two minutes Brian Dutton set up Mark Swales, whose shot was blocked. A minute later Swales raced away, crossed from the right, and the ball went across the goal with no Pikes player in position to take advantage.

Glasshoughton's first attack came after 12 minutes when Carl Fox set up Lee Parker, but the Pikes keeper Carl Silburn was out to smother the danger.

Glasshoughton then had a good spell, with good efforts from Darren Leech, Woolford, Leech and Parker.

Glasshoughton went on to make the early running in the second half, with Woolford shooting over from six yards within 20 seconds of the kick-off after great moves by himself and Carl Fox.

Glasshoughton took a well-deserved lead after 51 minutes when a great right-wing run beat two Pikes players and a superb cross by Andy Seed found an unmarked Lee Parker, who blasted the ball from 25 yards into the roof of the Pikes net.

Constable, Woolford, Seed, and Woolford all went close for the visitors in the next ten minutes but the Pikes hung on.

The last 15 minutes saw the Pikes play as they can. They equalised after 87 minutes when a cross from Swales saw Duttion and Mark Newton go for the ball, but Brian Dutton's outstretched leg got there first and his shot flew into the goal for a deserved equaliser.

A minute later Glasshoughton broke clear, Woolford crossed and nobody was there to touch the ball. John Ellwood got the ball for the Pikes and passed to Dutton, who set Swales away to cross for Dickinson, arriving seconds too late to force a winner in stoppage time. Swales crossed for Dickinson to strike the ball against the cross bar.

The Pikes team were Silburn, MacAuley (Ellwood 79), Brunton, Eeles, McNaughton, Willgrass, Swales, M Dutton, Towse (Salt 57), Baxter (Drinkall 45) and Dickinson.

Pickering Town 0

Arnold Town 2

THE Pikes crashed to their first league defeat in 17 league games on Saturday when they entertained Arnold Town, who have won at Pickering three times in the last four seasons. To make matters worse for Pikes, this was their first defeat since they have started with Rob Eeles and Michael McNaughton at the heart of the Pikes defence.

Disaster struck in the opening ten minutes, when Pikes' player/manager Alex Mathie was injured, but bravely played on. Dean MacAuley was injured a few minutes later - he limped off to be replaced by Mark Barber.

The Pikes' first attack came after 26 minutes. Gavin Dickinson combined well with Mark Swales and Danny Brunton, whose shot was saved by Arnold keeper Lee Broster. Dickinson followed up but Brett Peel blocked his efforts.

Three minutes later, a long throw from the right by Swales found Brian Dutton, whose effort was tipped over the bar by Broster. From the resultant corner Broster collected the ball and cleared up field for his side to take a 30th minute lead with a Peter Davey goal.

Arnold went further ahead after 52 minutes when Bogen crossed from the right to unmarked Andy Davies, whose left foot 20 yard shot went in.

The Pikes had McNaughton cautioned after 69 minutes. The resultant free kick was taken by former Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town player, Phil Starbuck, but his effort went over the Pikes crossbar.

The last 15 minutes saw the Pikes in all-out attack, Seb Towse set up Dickinson after 75 minutes, but Broster saved well. Swales had a long throw to McNaughton after 78 minutes, but his fine header was well saved. Swales crossed from the left after 83 minutes for McNaughton's superb header to go straight into keeper Broster's arms, and he saved at the second attempt a 30-yard shot by Willgrass after 84 minutes.

The Pikes Reserves lost 1-0 away at Garforth Town Reserves. Garforth only had one point before this game. The Under-19s beat Darlington College Under-19s 2-1 on Monday.

The Pikes team on Saturday was as follows: Silburn, MacAuley (Barer 10), Brunton (Towse 70), Eeles, McNaughton, Willgrass, Morton, Dutton, Mathie (Baxter 35), M Swales and Dickinson. The crowd was 158.

Updated: 15:01 Wednesday, February 16, 2005