Fortunes change for Pikes (From Gazette & Herald)

Fortunes change for Pikes

Northern Counties East League: Glasshoughton Welfare 1, Pickering Town 1

The Pikes gained a fortunate point when they visited Glasshoughton on Monday to end their recent run of two defeats. This point puts them back up the league table into third as second-placed Liversedge beat Harrogate Railway 1-0, so Railway drop to fourth.

Buxton still lead the table as they beat Arnold Town 2-1. Buxton still have a six-point lead over Liversedge, but Liversedge have a game in hand.

Good news for the Pikes supporters was the return of Dean MacAuley. He finished up playing the full game owing to injuries to several players. He did alright but tired towards the end which is to be expected after his lengthy lay-off with his ankle injury.

Matthew Morton was rested with his knee problem, but hopes to be back for the FA Vase game with Tavistock on January 21.

Within 90 seconds of the kick-off, the Pikes lost striker Liam Salt who was ill. He was replaced by Dan Barwick, the former Thirsk school pupil and Darlington FC Junior, who did very well on his first team debut, with some neat touches.

The Pikes' first chance came after six minutes. Mark Swales broke down the left wing and crossed for the ball to go wide off James Drinkall's knee. Five minutes later, a Pikes free kick was only partially cleared to Danny Brunton, who put the ball back into the penalty area for Barwick to turn and shoot but it went over the crossbar.

Glasshoughton then had a very good 20-minute spell. Danny King beat two men but his 12-yard shot went wide of the Pikes' goal.

After 17 minutes, Glasshoughton's Ryan Harwood beat two men and shot from 30 yards just wide. Two minutes later, Harwood passed to Jamie Thompson but his 20-yard shot went wide.

After 26 minutes, Leon Henry crossed from the left wing for Harwood to have a great chance but a timely Lee Pallender challenge saved the day for the Pikes.

Thompson put Lee Parker clear, who turned and shot from 18 yards but Pikes' keeper Carl Silburn saved well. Inn a similar move, Silburn saved another of Parker's efforts.

The Pikes had a good build-up after 38 minutes when Pallender combined well with Barwick, who passed to Towse but his 20-yard left foot shot went straight at home keeper Tom Morgan.

A minute before half time, the Pikes took the lead. A good right wing move by MacAuley and Greening saw Towse cross with his left foot for Drinkall to ghost into the penalty area and outjump the home defence to head the ball into the roof of the net. It was a great goal for the Pikes and couldn't have come at a better time.

In the second half, Glasshoughton stepped their play up a gear. The Pikes defended well but didn't really create a good chance to get a vital second goal.

Glasshoughton's Harwood was cautioned after 50 minutes. The Pikes had Brunton cautioned after 61 minutes. Two minutes later, Steve Roberts limped off to be replaced by George Rose.

The first half hour of the second half was quiet but the last 15 minutes saw Glasshoughton in all-out attack mode.

A good left wing move after 76 minutes by Adam Sadler set up Darren Leech, whose excellent cross went right across the Pikes' goal but there was no-one there to take advantage.

A minute later, Glasshoughton got the ball into the Pikes' goal but play had already stopped for an infringement against the home side.

Ten minutes from the end, Drinkall had an 18-yard left foot shot well saved by Morgan. Two minutes later, Rose lost the ball in midfield. Sadler crossed for Harwood to have a great header superbly tipped over by Silburn.

The right wing corner taken by Dan Newton was again put over for another corner which this time was from the left wing. Newton sent the ball deep over to the right for Thompson to whip back into the danger zone for Sadler to score by forcing the ball over the goal line from close range.

Glasshoughton were then very unlucky not to take the lead. Sadler crossed for Harwood to have a diving header go just wide and, with just two minutes remaining, Harwood had a great shot superbly saved by Silburn. The ball then fell to Sadler whose effort hit the post. The ball rebounded to Harwood whose effort was well blocked by a Pikes defender.

All in all, it was a good point for the Pikes. James Drinkall was named as Man of the Match in front of a crowd of 105.

The Pikes are at home on Saturday to Long Eaton United, who are currently third from bottom, a place below Glasshoughton Welfare. The game will kick-off at 3pm.

When the sides played at Long Eaton in early October, the Pikes won 1-0 with a first half goal scored by Stephen Swales.

On Tuesday, the Pikes are at home in the third round of the League Cup to Glapwell, kick-off 7.45pm.

Glapwell are in a good run of form at the moment. On Monday, they won 3-1 away at basement club Brodsworth MW and moved up into sixth place, three points behind the Pikes.

The two sides met at Pickering in November when the match ended goal-less. A close game is to be expected.

The Pikes have arranged their outstanding North Riding CFA Senior Cup quarter final game away at Northallerton Town for Wednesday, February 1, kick-off 7.45pm.

The Pikes team at Glasshoughton on Saturday was as follows: Silburn, Pallender, Brunton, Eeles, Ramm, MacAuley, Greening, Drinkall, Swales (Towse 16), Salt (Barwick one) and Roberts (Rose 63).

The Pikes Reserves are away at Darlington RA Res on Saturday, kick-off 2pm.

Pikes in profile: Danny Brunton

Position: Left back.

Previous clubs: Scarborough, Bridlington Town.

Best moment in career: "Scoring against Stoke City in LDV Cup for Scarborough."

Job: Student physiotherapist.

Family: Girlfriend.

Updated: 10:37 Wednesday, January 04, 2006