Six-goal thriller sees Pikes share points (From Gazette & Herald)

Six-goal thriller sees Pikes share points

Northern Counties East League: Pickering Town 3, Armthorpe Welfare 3

It was a six-goal end-to-end thriller at Pickering on Tuesday night, which saw both sides share the points.

The Pikes gifted Armthorpe two goals in the opening 25 minutes. They took the lead after 20 minutes when Paul Goodhand dribbled the ball towards the penalty area and shot from 20 yards with his left foot into the bottom corner of the Pikes' goal.

Five minutes later, Lee Pallender handled the ball under no danger. Referee Mark Horn, who was well positioned, awarded a penalty kick, which was converted by Gary Jones.

The Pikes had more chances but either shot at the keeper, over the crossbar or wide.

The second half started with Pikes' player/manager Alex Mathie bringing on Mark Swales to liven up the attack, and he did just that. After 49 minutes, the Pikes were back in the game when Swales set up Ricky Greening, who is back from his Whitby Town exploits, to score from close range.

The Pikes drew level after 68 minutes when Swales was clean through on goal but was pulled back. The assistant referee waved for a penalty kick which was eventually given. Swales stepped forward and scored with a superbly struck penalty.

There was a second Swales goal after 71 minutes, following good work by Liam Salt to put the Pikes ahead for the first time.

Armthorpe snatched an equaliser thanks to poor defending by the Pikes after 78 minutes. Jones' shot was blocked, and the ball fell to substitute Craig Morley, who turned and shot from 15 yards in front of the Gazette & Herald stand.

Two minutes from time, Greening set up Swales, who 114 yard shot hit the inside of the post and was scrambled away.

In stoppage time, Swales crossed from the left for Matthew Morton to head the ball towards the goal, but the visitors' keeper Gary Strepham made a superb save to earn his side a precious but deserved point.

Man of the Match was Mark Swales.

The Pikes' team was as follows: Silburn, Baines (Swales 45), Brunton, Pallender, McNaughton, Rose, Greening, Morton, Roberts (Salt 56), Nogan and Stillgoe (Baxter 70).

Missing from this game and Saturday's trip to Glapwell will be skipper Dean MacAuley, who is suspended for seven days by the North Riding CFA for the number of cautions he has received so far this season.

The Pikes returned to winning ways on Saturday against lowly Maltby Main and enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 home win.

The first Pikes' chance fell to Morton after six minutes but he shot wide with his left foot from 22 yards. A minute later, Greening shot over the crossbar from 20 yards.

Maltby's first attack came after 10 minutes when Jordan Stocks hit a 25-yard shot which looked goal-bound until Lee Pallender cleared the danger. Play switched to the other end where Danny Brunton's left wing cross was cleared by Darren Green.

The visitors attacked again after 13 minutes when Pallender robbed Martin Brissett, but the ball went to Lee Mellon. However, Michael McNaughton deflected his effort for a corner, which was taken by Stocks from the left but the Pikes' keeper, Carl Silburn, saved well.

The Pikes launched an attack a minute later when James Drinkall won the ball in midfield, beat two men and shot from 20 yards, but the visitors' keeper, Daniel Heald, saved well.

The opening goal came after 16 minutes in front of the Gazette & Herald stand. Both Greening and Steve Baxter had good efforts blocked. The ball rebounded to Drinkall, who turned and scored with a 15-yard right foot superb strike.

Three minutes later, Brunton crossed for Baxter to miss the ball which went onto Greening, whose shot was deflected for a corner. Greening took it from the left wing for Baxter to miss the target with a free header.

The second goal of the game came after 25 minutes when Greening crossed from the right for Salt to score at the second attempt from close range - his second goal in successive games. He also played on Friday night for FC Rosette in a Scarborough & District League.

Three minutes later, Silburn saved well to prevent Brissett scoring for the visitors. After 33 minutes, David Wardle crossed for Maltby from the right for Curtis Mellars to head goalwards but Silburn saved superbly.

On the stroke of half time, Salt beat the keeper and a defender, but the keeper chased back towards his goal where he caught Salt's simple shot - the miss of the half.

In the second half, Maltby were looking to get back into the game. Mellars, Mellon and Stocks all went close in the opening 10 minutes.

The last 25 minutes was all the Pikes, with several good chances going to waste by substitutes Lee Nogan and Mark Swales. MacAuley had a very good attempt on goal after 70 minutes but Heald saved superbly, tipping the ball round for a corner.

The only black-spot for the Pikes was a last minute yellow card for Pallender for a needless late challenge. Man of the Match for the Pikes was Jamie Ramm in front of a crowd of 74.

The Pikes Reserves lost 3-2 away at Teesside Athletic, with Carl Stewart scoring both Pikes goals at Redcar.

Last Wednesday, the Pikes lost 3-1 away at Hallam, who took a three-goal lead with goals scored by Richard Lopes, Ashley Longstaff and Tom Franklin. The Pikes scored after 55 minutes thanks to a good effort by substitute Salt.

The Pikes are away at Glapwell on Saturday, kick-off 3pm, and on Monday they are at home to Shirebrook, kick-off 3pm.

The Pikes' rearranged game away at Selby Town will be played on Monday, May 1, kick-off 3pm.

Updated: 16:02 Wednesday, April 12, 2006