Pikes savour Vase victory (From Gazette & Herald)

Pikes savour Vase victory

FA Vase, round four: Pickering Town 3, Tavistock 0

Pickering Town gave a superb all-round team performance on Saturday to reach the last 16 for the first time in their history in the FA Vase Cup competition - the national Non-League cup.

The Pikes have previously reached the last 32 (Round four) three times and always lost, but on Saturday Alex Mathie's side were full value for their great win against their visitors from Devon.

The first half was a close affair with both side having chances to score, but each side appeared to be weighing the opposition up.

The Pikes started well. In the first minute, Matthew Morton set up James Drinkall whose header was close. Two minutes later, Stephen Swales put Danny Brunton clear for his 12-yard shot to be saved by Tavistock keeper Andrew Meed.

The visitors came into the game after 12 minutes when they had three good chances within a minute from John Morris, Will Stringer and James Steer, but they were either blocked or saved by the Pikes' keeper Carl Silburn.

The chance of the half fell to former York City favourite Lee Nogan after 19 minutes when he robbed Morris on the edge of the penalty area, beat the advancing keeper and shot at the open goal in front of the Gazette & Herald stand after 19 minutes from 12 yards wide of the goal. Three minutes later, Nogan set up Morton whose weak 20-yard shot was easily saved.

Again Tavistock came back strong. After 26 minutes, Steer shot but Michael McNaughton got in a great block tackle to clear the danger. Two minutes later, a long clearance by Meed found Mark Conday, who flicked the ball to Stringer, whose left wing cross was a great chance for the visitors but there was nobody in the penalty area to take advantage.

After 31 minutes, Conday put Morris clear but his shot was cleared off the goal line by McNaughton. Two minutes later, Mike Arscott took a free kick from the halfway line for Stringer to have a chance, but Silburn saved well.

The last 10 minutes of the first half saw the Pikes have three good chances. Morton's corner was headed back across goal by Rob Eeles but there was no Pikes player there to take advantage.

Ricky Greening beat three men and crossed to Drinkall, but a timely tackle by Arscott saved the day for the visitors and, on the stroke of half time, Nogan set up Greening but his effort was well saved by Meed.

The second half saw the Pikes take the lead after 46 minutes when Morton supplied an excellent 40-yard cross-field pass to Nogan, who controlled the ball superbly and shot with his right foot from 18 yards for a brilliant opening goal. Seven minutes later, Meed made a great save to prevent Drinkall scoring after good work by Morton.

The Pikes doubled their lead after 56 minute when Nogan crossed from the right for Drinkall to score from close range. A minute later, McNaughton set up Greening with a long ball. He ran on and shot from 18 yards but it hit the crossbar and was scrambled clear.

Swales fired the Pikes into a three-goal lead after 69 minutes when he finished a good build up by Morton, Greening and Nogan. The Pikes were no in full control.

The last 15 minutes saw the Pikes have several good chances either saved or missed by Nogan, Swales, Steve Roberts, Steve Baxter and, in stoppage time, Man of the Match James Drinkall shot over the crossbar from 18 yards.

This was a great achievement by the Pikes from an excellent performance in front of a crowd of 290, including 30 or so from Devon, 'groundhoppers' from Lancashire and Cheshire, and the FA Vase committee chairman and his wife, who are from Eversham.

The Pikes won £1,500 prize money with this victory.

After the game, Mathie was delighted with the result: "We were really well organised. In the first half, we were very nervous. I think both sides were feeling each other out, but we came out on top. I don't think the goalkeeper had a save to make.

"It's great for the club and great for the players that we've got over this stumbling block.

"We play Wimborne Town from Dorset in the next round. We're looking forward to it."

On Saturday, the Pikes return to league business with an away game at bottom club Brodsworth MW, kick-off 3pm. Brodsworth play at Woodlands, four miles north of Doncaster, just off the A1.

The Pikes team on Saturday was as follows: Silburn, Pallender, Brunton, Eeles, McNaughton, MacAuley, Morton, Drinkall, Greening (Baxter 81), Nogan (Salt 81) and Swales (Roberts 78). Ramm and Towse not used.

The club are to hold a Fan's Forum on Tuesday, January 31, at the Recreation Club at 7.30pm.

The club hope supporters will turn up and back this new venture when the management team will answer any questions asked of them and maybe give a clearer view of the club's future.

The club are also appealing for match sponsors and match ball sponsors. Contact chairman Tony Dunning at work on (01751) 472627 or at home on (01751) 473697.

In February, the Pikes are to play nine first team games - not bad in a 28-day month. Full details will be in next week's Gazette & Herald.

The Reserves lost 2-0 on Saturday away at Hartlepool Reserves. Next Saturday, they are at home to Guisborough Town Black Swan in the Burness Trophy, kick-off 1.30pm.

Updated: 14:42 Wednesday, January 25, 2006