Nogan's brace of goals sees Pickering to victory (From Gazette & Herald)

Nogan's brace of goals sees Pickering to victory

Northern Counties East League: Brodsworth MW 1, Pickering Town 2

THE Pikes are up into fourth place in the Premier Division after Saturday's away win at the League's bottom club.

The first half was all Pickering. After two minutes, a Lee Pallender free kick found Lee Nogan, whose shot went just over the crossbar. A minute later, Dean MacAuley set up Liam Salt, who crossed for James Drinkall to run in and shoot from 20 yards over the crossbar.

The next 15 minutes saw Nogan shoot wide from 14 yards, and Drinkall head over the crossbar before powering into the home penalty area to latch onto a left wing cross by Wilkes, but Brodsworth's Brady Roberts headed the ball clear.

Against the run of play, Brodsworth took the lead after 40 minutes in their first attack of the game. A right wing corner taken by Ryan Carmody went to the Pikes' keeper Carl Silburn, who, under pressure handed the ball to Brodsworth's Gareth North, who duly scored from within the six-yard box with a simple but well-placed tap-in.

Two minutes later, Brodsworth had Sean Perkins cautioned when he committed a shocking late tackle on the Pikes' skipper Dean MacAuley.

The second half saw the home side start brightly. After 49 minutes, Liam Radford cut in and shot from 18 yards with his right foot, but Silburn was well placed to save.

The Pikes equalised after 64 minutes. Baxter received the ball on the right wing near the halfway line and went on an amazing run, beating three men. As he cut in from the wing, he supplied an excellent through-ball for Nogan to run onto, beat the advancing home keeper and scored with an acute-angled shot from 10 yards.

Ten minutes later, the Pikes took the lead. MacAuley cleared the ball from defence to Steve Roberts, who ran down the right wing and crossed for Nogan to beat the keeper and a defender to the ball and shoot into the home goal for his second goal of the game.

In the last minute, Dominic Graham put Roberts clear but he shot over the crossbar.

All in all, it was a good Pikes victory although they made hard work of it. But at the end of the day, it was three points gained and a move up into fourth place.

The Pikes Reserves lost 2-0 at home to Guisborough Town Black Swan in the 'Alex Burness Plate'.

The Pikes team on Saturday as was follows: Silburn, Pallender, Brunton, Eeles, Ramm, MacAuley, Baxter, Drinkall (Graham 71), Salt (Roberts 69), Nogan, Wilkes (Towse 62). Man of the Match for the Pikes was Jamie Ramm.

Wimbourne Town, who the Pikes play in the fifth round of the FA Vase on Saturday, February 11, drew 1-1 on Saturday at Bournemouth, who are fifth. Wimbourne are currently eighth in the Sydenhams Wessex League First Division.

The Pikes are running two coaches to Wimbourne for this very important game. The players and officials will leave on Friday and stay two nights at Bournemouth. The supporters coach will leave early Saturday morning and return on Sunday, staying the night in Bournemouth.

For further information, contact club chairman Tony Dunning in his butcher's shop, Bridge Street, Pickering or ring (01751) 472627.

The Pikes are away tonight (Wednesday) at Northallerton Town in the quarter final of the North Riding CFA Senior Cup competition, kick-off 7.30pm.

This is a competition the Pikes have never won. The winners will visit Fishburn Park, Marske United or Thornaby in the semi-final.

Pickering Town Under-19s match against Goole last night had to be cancelled, when Goole were unable to raise a side.

Updated: 15:47 Wednesday, February 01, 2006