FA Cup Premilinary round replay

Pickering Town 0, Matlock Town 1

AFTER a gutsy 2-2 draw away at UniBond first division side Matlock Town on Saturday, the Pikes bowed out of the FA Cup in the replay at Mill Lane last night in front of a crowd of over 200.

Matlock had right back Matthew Varley available after he had missed Saturday's game through suspension, and his long throws caused the Pikes problems. The visitors almost took the lead through Gareth Williams on three minutes, but Pikes' keeper Kevin Martin saved well.

After Willgrass shot just over for the Pikes and Wash also went close, Matlock took the lead after 18 minutes with a great strike from 15 yards from ex-league player Phil Brown.

Pickering fought bravely to get back into the match as Mark Wood went close, following good work by Simon Collins and Dean MacAuley.

Four minutes into the second half, the Pikes almost gained parity as Collins' 40-yard effort was tipped over. Matlock's Gareth Williams was cautioned after 53 minutes before O'Reilly headed over a Willgrass free-kick.

The Pikes battled hard but couldn't find an equaliser and Matlock's extra class told in the end. The UniBond side go through to face Tow Law Town in the next round.

Pikes' team: Martin, Collins, Chapman (Dale, 68 mins), O'Reilly, Vasey, Willgrass, Rhodes (Crawford, 70 mins), MacAuley, Wood, Wash, Dickinson.

Matlock Town 2, Pickering Town 2

Saturday's match at Matlock was a game of two halves. The home side had much the better of the first half, but the Pikes bounced back with an excellent second-half performance and with a little luck could have won the game. The Pikes were without Phil O'Reilly owing to work, and Matthew Russell, who was away for the weekend.

Former Scarborough player Gareth Williams fired the home side ahead after 13 minutes, latching onto a long through ball and lofting the ball over Martin.

The Pikes were level within a minute when Adam Wash rounded the keeper, Kevin Tye, and coolly slotted home with a great finish.

The rest of the first half was one-way traffic, with Matlock well in control, but they couldn't get the ball past Martin.

The second half was a different story. Matlock were making their strength count and with a weak referee it looked to be paying off, but the Pikes stuck to their game plan and took a deserved lead after 59 minutes. Alex Willgrass crossed from the left for Mark Wood, who made no mistake from 12 yards.

Matlock looked to be heading for a third consecutive defeat until substitute Danny Holland scored four minutes from time after a good move by Ian Clarke and James Lomas. The Pikes had Mark Wood and Alex Willgrass cautioned.

Pikes' team: Martin, Collins, Connor (Dale 57 mins), Thornton (Beech 34 mins), Vasey, Willgrass, Rhodes, MacAuley, Wood, Wash (Crawford 78 mins), Dickinson.

For Pickering Town's September fixtures, see the sports service on page 39.

Updated: 10:05 Wednesday, September 04, 2002