Pikes get back to their winning ways (From Gazette & Herald)

Pikes get back to their winning ways

Northern Counties East League: Eccleshill United 0, Pickering Town 1; Pickering had a welcome but fortunate victory last night when they visited Eccleshill United and won by a single goal.

The Pikes started very well. In the opening 10 minutes, Michael McNaughton had a header from a Steve Roberts right foot left wing corner go over the crossbar.

Skipper Matthew Morton had a good shot deflected for a corner and Jamie Rudd crossed from the left wing for Lee Nogan to beat his man but his shot was well saved by keeper Craig Bates.

Eccleshill then took a firm grip on the remaining minutes of the first half, which started with a bad McNaughton free kick after 13 minutes, allowing Scott Broughton a free shot from 20 yards but, fortunately for the Pikes, it went wide.

Three minutes later, Andy Hawland was clean through but a timely tackle by Danny Brunton prevented a scoring opportunity. A minute later, Robert Morgan passed to Ben Hardy, but Lee Pallender deflected his effort for a corner which was taken by Hardy for Jamie Buchan to have a 20-yard shot blocked by Pallender. The ball rebounded to Hardy but Carl Silburn, the Pikes keeper, made a brilliant save.

After 25 minutes, Hardy's right wing cross found Matthew Tinsley, whose superb shot hit the crossbar. The ball rebounded to Hawland, whose header was superbly saved by Silburn. Three minutes later, a good build-up by Hardy and Stuart Waite allowed Hawland a wonderful chance, but he missed from eight yards with the goal at his mercy.

The Pikes had a good spell when Nogan had two attempts in three minutes. His first shot was blocked, and his second was saved by Bates.

The best move of the half for the Pikes saw McNaughton combine well with Swales and Nogan to set up Roberts, whose 20-yard shot after a 40-yard run went over the crossbar.

Eccleshill started well after the break. After 55 minutes, Tinsley shot over the crossbar with a 20-yard free kick. A minute later, Swales crossed from the right for Nogan's shot to be well saved by Bates.

The last half-hour was played in heavy rain, making conditions very slippery. After 67 minutes, Silburn pulled off another excellent save to prevent Patterson scoring when he was clean through on the Pikes' goal.

After 72 minutes, Swales' left foot right wing cross saw Rudd go close for the Pikes. A minute later, George Rose combined well with Steve Baxter to supply Nogan but his shot was blocked.

The last 10 minutes saw the Pikes have their best spell of the game. After 83 minutes, Swales' left wing cross found Nogan but he missed the target. But the all-important goal was scored in the 86th minute by Morton, who ran on, beat a man and scored with a right angled shot from 15 yards.

Man of the Match was Carl Silburn. The team was: Silburn, Pallender, Brunton, Pickford, McNaughton, Morton, Roberts (Baxter 57), Rose, M Swales, Nogan, and Rudd (Salt 82). Substitutes not used: Mathie.

It was bad news on Saturday, when the Pikes lost 1-0 away to next-to-bottom side Armthorpe Welfare, after three successive league victories. The game was played in very heavy rain and a swirling wind which didn't help.

The opening 15 minutes were contested in midfield as both teams tried to get used to the conditions. Armthorpe took the lead after 19 minutes when Giovanni Carchedi shot from 20 yards with his left foot. The shot hit the crossbar with Silburn well beaten. The ball rebounded to Gary Jones, who scored with a fine, unchallenged header.

Two minutes later, Armthorpe went close when Nicky Page set up Lewis Buckthorpe, but his weak finish was easily saved by Silburn.

The best chance the Pikes had in the first half came after 38 minutes. Dean MacAuley started the move with a free kick, taken from the right wing. McNaughton won the ball and set up player/manager Alex Mathie, whose 18-yard right foot curling shot was saved well by the home keeper, Brett Chittock.

The last five minutes of the half saw the home side go close twice. Jones made a good effort as he turned and shot just wide, and David Soames had a good chance but a timely tackle by Pallender saved the day.

Armthorpe started well in the second half, with Silburn having to work hard to prevent attempts by Buckthorpe and Ashley Hildred. Then two minutes later, a good move started by Carchedi, who was a constant threat to the Pikes, and involved Buckthorpe and Jones, was deflected for a corner which came to nothing.

The first chance for the Pikes came after 52 minutes when Mathie set up Morton, who beat four men but shot over the crossbar from 20 yards.

Armthorpe got back on top again. After 53 minutes, Carchedi set up Soames, who shot wide, but Carchedi appeared to be tripped off the ball inside the penalty area. Three minutes later, Jones shot wide from 20 yards.

The Pikes saw Pallender set up substitute Baxter, who passed the ball to Morton, who raced away and shot wide from 20 yards after 58 minutes.

Armthorpe then had another 10 minutes of pressure on the Pikes' goals. A lovely left wing cross on the hour mark by skipper Chrisian Hyslop was wasted with no player in the penalty area. Three minutes later, a right wing corner taken by Hildred found an unmarked Jones, who turned and short from 15 yards go just wide.

After 77 minutes, Rob Eeles made a great tackle to prevent a Soames goal. Carchedi's effort after 85 minutes produced a great save by Silburn, and in the last few minutes, Morton and Mark Swales both went close.

Deep into stoppage time, the best Pikes move of the game saw McNaughton and Swales combine well to set up Brunton, but Chittock saved it.

All in all, the Pikes can have no complaints with the result. Danny Brunton was their Man of the Match.

On Saturday, they are at home to Hallam, kick off 3pm.

The Reserves thrashed Teesside Athletic 11-0 with their goals scored by Jamie Rudd (his first Pikes hat-trick), Ryan Cooper, Dan Barwick, Richard Crichton, James Drinkall and Seb Towse. Towse is now back with the Pikes after his brief spell with Bridlington Town.

On Saturday, the Pikes Reserves will entertain Black Swan, Guisborough, in the first round of the North Riding CFA County Cup, kick off 1.30pm. The game will be played on Ryedale Sports Club's pitch, Thornton Road, Pickering.

Last week, Pickering Town Under-19s won 3-2 away at Pontefract, with their goals scored by Ryan Cooper, Gary Bowes and Adam Ryan.

On Monday, the Under-19s visited Scarborough Under-19s, with Scarborough worthy 2-1 winners.

Updated: 14:57 Wednesday, October 12, 2005