Weather delays Pikes' quarter-final showdown (From Gazette & Herald)

Weather delays Pikes' quarter-final showdown

PICKERING Town's FA Vase quarter-final game away at Nantwich Town was postponed after an 8.30am pitch inspection on Saturday morning.

The players' coach was waiting to be loaded when the dreaded telephone call came from the Nantwich officials.

Pikes chairman Tony Dunning said: "We were all set. We were just waiting around until we found out. It was no surprise it was frozen in the morning, but the afternoon was probably a different matter. We were lucky we hadn't set off."

The game will now be played on Sunday, March 12, kick-off 3pm, which means Saturday's fixture against Arnold Town has had to be postponed until a later date.

The reasons for switching to Sunday from Saturday are mainly that, at this level, the home club must employ stewards who are approved by the football authorities and local authority approved. To get these stewards, Nantwich plan to use the stewards from Crewe Alexander, who are home to Southampton on Saturday.

With Crewe at home, switching the game to Sunday should also add at least 100 to the gate, which is to the benefit of both Nantwich and the Pikes. It also means the Pikes will have a full squad to select from as one or two players have to work on Saturday because they had last Saturday off.

The other three quarter finals were all played and results went according to form. Crook Town lost 1-0 at home to Bury Town in front of a crowd of almost 2,000 - that figure would suit the Pikes officials. Hillingdon Borough beat Squires Gate, from Blackpool, thanks to two second half goals in front of a crowd of 428, and Cammell Laird, the favourites, won 2-1 away at Newmarket Town in front of a crowd of 750. Newmarket were leading at half time by a single goal, but a couple of second half goals saw the visitors through.

Northern Counties East League

The Pikes' away game at Garforth on Tuesday, March 21, is in doubt because the West Riding County FC have suspended Garforth from all football for 14 days as from March 13, up to and including March 26.

Although Garforth's owner Simon Clifford has promised to appeal the decision, the Pikes are waiting for the outcome. More information in next week's paper.

Northallerton Town, who knocked the Pikes out of this year's North Riding CFA Senior Cup competition in the quarter finals, went on to beat Marske Utd 2-0 in the semi-final and will now play in the final for the first time in their long history.

They will face the winners of last week's postponed semi-final between York City and Scarborough.

On Monday, March 13, the Pikes Under-19s have their last home league game against Glasshoughton Welfare, kick-off 7.30pm.

The Pikes urgently need match sponsors and match ball sponsors for their remaining nine home league games. Anybody interested is asked to contact chairman, Tony Dunning (01751) 472627 work or home 473697.

The club are also looking for agents to sell their weekly draw tickets and Easter draw tickets. Any person interested is asked to contact Tony Dunning.

The club have a sportsmans evening with guest speaker Kevin Lynch, the former football league referee on Thursday, April 20.

Updated: 15:42 Wednesday, March 08, 2006