Home run is important for Pickering Town (From Gazette & Herald)

Home run is important for Pickering Town

2:53pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in Sport

PICKERING Town’s remaining home fixtures will be the difference between a successful and average campaign, according to manager Jimmy Reid, writes Oscar Pearson.

The Pikes returned from their Northern Counties East League premier division journey to Lincoln Moorlands Railway with a point after a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Jamie Patterson put Town ahead, but the Pikes were unable to hold out for the win as a late Luke Forbes penalty rescued a draw for the hosts.

Reid said: “We had so many chances but our finishing was ugly. It’s frustrating because even I could have been in goal. The penalty was the difference between a draw and a win for us.

“We were playing in pretty bad conditions, but we’ve got no real excuses. We didn’t finish our chances, so we got what we deserved.”

Lincoln had played three away games within a week prior to this match, and Pickering were the sprightlier side in the first half.

Liam Salt almost put them ahead in the first minute, being flagged offside regardless, prior to Patterson’s 11th-minute strike from a Liam Shepherd cross. Joe Danby also missed a good chance.

Moorlands improved in the second half, though, and their penalty came on 65 minutes when Thomas Reid was adjudged to have handled the ball.

Lincoln finished the game stronger, but Reid remains confident of a good end to the season as he looks to build on his side’s fine home form. “We can beat any team at home, we always play better on our own pitch,” he said. “We’re not saying maximum points from our home games is guaranteed, but hopefully we’ll be at our best.

“We’re not a million miles away. We’ve got eight home games left and seven away, and we’ll be playing teams who are up there.

“Scarborough will be tough, Thackley will be tough, but we’re treating every game as our last. We’re not taking our foot off the pedal and are looking at a fourth-placed finish.”

Last night Pickering hosted Armthorpe Welfare and on Saturday they will entertain Maltby Main, who last Wednesday held table-toppers Scarborough to a 2-2 draw. Reid attended that game but feels the Pikes will be able to pick up all three points if they are at their best.

Next Tuesday, Town face Grangetown Boys Club at Thornaby in the North Riding Senior Cup following the postponement of the original last-eight fixture on January 23, and again last Wednesday.

The victors will play Guisborough Town at home in the semi-finals, and Reid is positive about Town's chances of progression.

“We’ll push on now and try to get into the cup final,” he said. “We’ve got a great chance because we’ve beaten some strong teams this year. If we manage that and finish in the top six in the league, next season could be huge for us.”

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Arran Reid, the manager’s son, has joined Scarborough so recent signing David Bramley is the new man between the sticks for Pickering.

Pickering Town (v Lincoln Moorlands): Bramley, Reid, Gowan, Readman, Sturdy, Taylor (Heads 70), Baxter, Patterson, Danby (Dalton 65), Salt, Shepherd. Sub not used: Braithwaite.