JIMMY REID is reaping the benefits of a settled side after his Pickering Town team picked up their third win in eight days with a 3-0 victory over Nostell Miners Welfare.

The Pikes boss saw his men vault to sixth in the Northern Counties East League premier division ahead of last night’s (Tuesday’s) visit to Glasshoughton Welfare, and he said: “It was three points and a clean sheet and it gave everyone in defence a lot of confidence.

“We have had three decent wins and I have told them that if we can take our ‘A’ game to the table we are going to win 75 per cent of our games in the league.

“We’ve had a lot of distractions and I am hoping we are a bit more settled now.”

Pickering’s 3-0 victory followed a 3-2 midweek home success against Athersley Recreation and means Reid’s previously shot-shy side has scored 10 times in three matches.

Nostell played better than the final scoreline suggested but Pickering took the lead a minute before half-time when Josh Greening broke clear and crossed to Joe Danby.

His well-struck shot, from the edge of the penalty area, went through a crowd of players in the box and past unsighted Nostell ’keeper Ben Saynor.

The Pikes doubled their lead five minutes after the break when Tommy Adams scored from 18 yards after being found by Robbie Hawkes.

The third goal came in added time when Steve Baxter’s superb left-wing run took him past a couple of players. He located Lewis Taylor, who scored from 10 yards with his right foot.

Pickering: A Reid, T Reid, Shepherd, Readman, Sturdy, Taylor, Patterson, Adams (Batchelor 57), Danby (Baxter 82), Greening, Hawkes (Dalton 72).

All five goals were scored in the second half as Pickering edged past Athersley Recreation 3-2 at the Recreation Ground.

Greening gave Reid’s men the lead after 53 minutes and that advantage was doubled by Chris Batchelor with 17 minutes left on the clock.

But the visitors stormed back to level through Robert Cartwright and Ryan White only for a second Batchelor goal to snatch victory for Pickering three minutes from time.

Pickering continue on their travels this weekend when they are at Heanor Town in the premier division.

On Wednesday, October 30, they visit Barton Town Old Boys.

The club’s under-19s, meanwhile, beat Westella & Willerby 3-1 in the Pat Rice Trophy. Their goals were scored by Sam Calvert, Lewis Taylor and Aidan Thomas-Foster.