Single goal sees Pickering fall to league leaders Buxton (From Gazette & Herald)

Single goal sees Pickering fall to league leaders Buxton

Northern Counties East League Pickering Town 0, Buxton 1; The Pikes failed to complete a 'league double' against leaders Buxton on Saturday when a tight game finished in Buxton's favour, thanks to an 81st minute goal.

The first half was fairly even. The second half saw Buxton the better side and they deserved their first win in their last three games.

The Pikes started well. After a minute, Dean MacAuley took a left wing corner which Buxton's keeper Scott Hartley, signed from Maltby Main this season, punched clear. Two minutes later, Alex Mathie, Danny Brunton and Steve Baxter all combined well to set up Mark Swales, who shot from 16 yards over the crossbar.

Buxton's first attack came after four minutes. Matt Griffin sent a long crossfield pass to the impressive Alvyn Riley, who crossed from the left wing for David Reeves, the former Bolton, Sheffield Wednesday and Chesterfield player, to turn and shoot from 19 yards, but Pikes keeper Carl Silburn tipped the ball over the crossbar for a corner.

Lee Nogan had a good chance for the Pikes after 10 minutes but his goal-bound shot was blocked on the line by defender Sean Hutchinson.

The next 30 minutes saw Buxton get on top. After 12 minutes, Shaun Doxey combined well with Mark Reed to set-up Jordan Hall, whose right wing cross-cum-shot went over the Pikes' crossbar.

Two minutes later, Riley linked up well with Dan MacPherson for Riley to cross the ball. Silburn punched it clear to Doxey, who shot the ball back into the box where Reed turned and shot over the crossbar. After 16 minutes, Riley crossed for Reeves, but a timely Rob Eeles tackle saved the day for the Pikes as he closed in on goal.

After 25 minutes, Reed ghosted into the Pikes penalty area, easily beat Brunton, rounded Silburn, who somehow got a hand to the ball and forced it onto the outside of the goal post and out for a corner which was taken from the right wing by Riley's left foot. James Drinkall headed the ball clear to Hall, who passed the ball back into the area for Silburn to save from Gary Middleton. Four minutes later, Hall broke clear and shot from 30 yards but Silburn saved with ease.

Buxton had two players cautioned in the first half. They were Mark Reed and Dan MacPherson.

The Pikes hit back with three good chances in two minutes, starting after 42 minutes when Baxter supplied a good pass for Brunton to hit a good eight-yard shot which hit the underside of the crossbar in front of the Gazette & Herald stand. The ball fell to Swales, who unleased a powerful 12-yard left foot shot which went wide. Two minutes later, Nogan fired a 25 yard shot wide of the target.

In stoppage time, Buxton went close twice when Riley crossed for Reed to head wide, and Hall crossed for Riley to go very close.

The second half saw Buxton move up a gear. After 53 minutes, Hall crossed for Michael Towey, who headed the ball over the crossbar.

Riley took a left wing corner for Towey's header to be blocked on the goal-line by a Pikes defender. From the second corner, taken by Riley, Towey shot over from six yards.

A minute later, Hall ran through the Pikes' defence and shot narrowly wide. After 59 minutes, Buxton, now well on top, saw Towey cross for Reeves to turn and shoot but Michael McNaughton blocked the shot. Silburn saved well after 64 minutes when Towey shot from 25 yards. Five minutes later, MacPherson crossed for substitute Andy Brownrigg to head wide. A minute later, Silburn saved superbly to prevent Reed scoring.

After 76 minutes, Silburn saved superbly to stop Reed scoring from 14 yards after good work by Hall and Doxey.

The only goal of the game, and what proved to be the match winner, was scored after 81 minutes. Eeles brought MacPherson down some 20 yards from the Pikes goal in front of the Gazette & Herald stand. The direct free kick was taken by Reed. Silburn saved well but the ball bounced up in the air for Doxey to score from six yards.

In stoppage time, the Pikes stormed back looking for a point. McNaughton crossed for Swales but Buxton's outstanding defender, Gary Middleton, got in a timely tackle to save the day for his side. Brunton crossed for Salt to miss a very good chance and MacAuley and Matthew Morton both went very close. It was a very good game, enjoyed by a crowd of 157.

Man of the Match for the Pikes was keeper Carl Silburn.

The Pikes team was: Silburn, Baines, Brunton, Eeles, McNaughton, MacAuley, Baxter (Morton 59), Drinkall (Salt 74), Swales, Nogan and Mathie (Roberts 65).

On Saturday, the Pikes are away at Selby Town, kick-off 3pm.

The Pikes have a Sportsman's Evening on Thursday, April 20, when they will have guest speaker the former Nationwide Football League referee Kevin Lynch, who is one of the best after-dinner speakers on the circuit.

Tickets are £15 each to include supper, and can be purchased from Tony Dunning's butchers shop, Bridge Street, Pickering, or from the Recreation Club.

The game on Tuesday night was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Updated: 14:52 Wednesday, March 29, 2006