Thrilling victory sees Pickering second in table (From Gazette & Herald)

Thrilling victory sees Pickering second in table

Northern Counties East League - Pickering Town 2 Glasshoughton Welfare 1: The Pikes had a well-deserved, if hard-earned, home win against a strong and determined Glasshoughton side last night (Tuesday).

The first half saw non-stop Pikes attacking play, but only a single goal to show for all their work, possession and numerous goalscoring opportunities.

After two minutes, George Rose split the visitors' defence wide open to allow Lee Nogan a good chance but a timely tackle by Glasshoughton skipper Paul Mattison saved the day. Within 30 seconds, Mattison cleared the ball from the goal line to prevent what looked like a certain Nogan goal.

The Pikes took a well-deserved lead after five minutes when Mark Swales set up Ricky Greening, who managed outpaced the defence to run on and score with a superbly struck 18-yard angled lob into the roof of the goal in front of the Gazette & Herald stand.

The Pikes were now playing full of confidence, hitting the ball about and finding their men. After 12 minutes, Swales and Nogan linked up well, only for Swales to have his 16-yard shot saved by Glasshoughton keeper Tom Morgan. Then Greening and Swales combined to set up Rose, but his attempt was also saved.

Glasshoughton's first chance came after 15 minutes, when a left wing cross by Gareth Liversedge found an unmarked Daniel King, whose shot was well saved by Pikes keeper Carl Silburn. Two minutes later, Morgan, who played more as a sweeper than a keeper, stopped another Swales effort.

After 18 minutes, a well-struck Steve Roberts left wing cross found Michael McNaughton whose header found Nogan, who struck only to see his tremendous shot blocked by Richard Dobson.

After 24 minutes, Nogan headed wide of the goal following good work by Lee Pallender and Rose. A minute later, Nogan was clean through on goal in a one-on-one with Morgan, who somehow saved.

The second half saw a more determined Glasshoughton side. The Pikes, when they managed to attack, were getting caught offside and got in each others' way.

Disaster happened for the Pikes when, after 60 minutes, skipper Dean MacAuley was carried off with what looked like a very bad ankle injury. He was replaced by Jamie Rudd who, within a minute of coming on, was very unlucky with a 20-yard left foot free kick which went just wide of the goal.

Glasshoughton stunned the Pikes with an equaliser after 65 minutes when a corner, taken on the right wing by Andrew Seed, finished in the back of the goal. Silburn appeared to drop the ball and it rebounded in off a defender.

With 10 minutes of the game remaining, Glasshoughton's substitute Richard Stack had a couple of good efforts saved by Silburn, both within a minute. His first was a 20-yard left foot shot, and the second was a 20-yard right foot shot.

Two minutes later, King raced away but a timely McNaughton tackle saved the day for the Pikes.

In the last minute, the Pikes won the game when substitute Liam Salt scored with a 15-yard left foot shot after Danny Brunton's effort had been blocked and, in stoppage time, Rudd had a 20-yard free kick saved at the second attempt.

All in all, it was a good Pikes victory and an exciting game enjoyed by a crowd of 117. Man of the Match was Ricky Greening.

Pickering moved up into second place after beating Glasshoughton. Leaders Buxton win 2-0 away at Arnold Town. Liversedge, who were second, play away tonight (Wednesday) at Harrogate Railway.

The move up the table was helped on Saturday, when the Pikes visited Arnold Town to return with maximum points from their well deserved 1-0 away win.

The first half was goal-less and fairly even. The main talking point was severe injuries to key players. Arnold lost player/manager Phil Starbuck, the former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United player, with a cut above his left eye. The previous week, he suffered a cut above his right eye.

In the same clash, the Pikes lost striker Steve Baxter with a head injury. After a lengthy examination by paramedics, he was deemed fit enough to travel home and not go to hospital in Nottingham.

The best goal-scoring opportunity of the first half fell to Arnold's David Wilkins midway in the half when he shot over the crossbar when he could, and should, have done better.

The second half saw the Pikes have far more of the game and the better of the chances. Skipper Matthew Morton was cautioned after 64 minutes.

Ricky Greening had a great chance after 75 minutes when he was in a good position to score being one-on-one with the home keeper. His effort beat the keeper but hit the post and, from the rebound, he shot wide.

The only goal of the game was scored after 79 minutes when Greening set up Morton, who ran on and scored with a low shot into the bottom corner of the goal.

Overall, a well deserved Pikes victory in front of a crowd of 111. Man of the Match for the Pikes was Matthew Morton.

The Pikes are at home on Saturday in a rearranged league game to Garforth Town, kick off 3pm.

They then play host to local rivals Whitby Town on Tuesday, November 1, kick off 7.45pm in the North Riding CFA Senior Cup competition - a competition the Pikes have yet to win.

On Saturday, the Pikes Reserves beat Hartlepool Reserves 2-1 thanks to a couple of late goals scored by Seb Towse and Ben Pickford. The Reserves are away on Saturday to Darlington RC.

The Pikes are having a sportsman's evening on Thursday, October 27, at 7.30pm at the Recreation Club, Mill Lane, with guest speaker Duncan MacKenzie, the former Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United favourite.

Tickets, priced £15 and include supper, are available from Tony Dunning or the Recreation Club or telephone (01751) 472627, 473317 or 473697.

Updated: 16:46 Thursday, October 27, 2005