Pickering Town boss up for North Riding Cup semi-final (From Gazette & Herald)
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Pickering Town manager Jimmy Reid up for North Riding Cup semi-final
10:53am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Sport
By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter
Pickering Town’s Liam Shepherd, right, in high-kicking action with Thackley’s Matt Morgan during the Pikes’ 2-1 win
THE “biggest game of the season” is how Pickering Town manager Jimmy Reid rates tonight’s North Riding Senior Cup semi-final against Guisborough Town.
A final against Teesside outfit Marske awaits the winners of the Recreation Ground clash (kick off 7.45pm) and Reid is keen for the Pikes, who have never won the competition before, to make the showpiece game.
His men made it four Northern Counties East League premier division victories on the bounce with a 2-1 win against Thackley – despite Reid feeling his side did not perform to their full ability for much of the contest and relying on John Heads’ late goal to ensure all three points.
But hoping for a big crowd to roar his men on, Reid wants his players to “leave everything out on the pitch” and continue their excellent run of form.
“We only played for about 25 minutes against Thackley,” he said.
“We looked a bit leggy and Dean Readman cleared one off the line, but the substitutes made a difference and (coach) Steve Brown wasn’t happy in the first half.
“We’ve played a lot of teams towards the bottom of the league and these are the games you get judged on.
“Tonight’s match is the biggest game of the season for us. It’s the only cup we are still left in.
“We have never won the North Riding Senior Cup and it’s unbelievable the club have never won it.
“This is a real opportunity and, hopefully, we will come off the pitch having done enough. If you come off and you haven’t, you are kicking yourself and I am still getting over our defeat in the FA Cup.
“If you have given everything and it’s not enough then it’s not enough but you have to have no petrol left in the tank.”
On Guisborough, Reid added: “These northern teams are a much of a muchness.
“They always battle and have got a good spirit about them. They are always competitive games but we have no injuries and everyone is fit and raring to go.”
