PICKERING Town have suffered yet another squad blow after Jimmy Beadle left the club for Scarborough Athletic.

The former York City player was a revelation at Mill Lane, scoring eight goals in 13 games since November, but has now rejoined the Evo-Stik League division one south outfit.

Beadle, who began his career as a teenager at Scarborough prior to spells with York City and Whitby Town, returned to the Seadogs in December 2012 and helped them to the Northern Counties East League premier division title last season, notching 11 goals.

After manager Mitch Cook inherited a threadbare squad following the departure of former boss Jimmy Reid, Beadle was a standout player as Pickering became one of the league’s highest scorers.

Cook said: “It doesn’t surprise me that he is gone but it is really disappointing. We got his fitness back and got him scoring but I can understand his reasoning.

“It is a higher level and there is much more money on offer. He is young but he has got a lot of experience.

“There isn’t anything we can do about it and we will have to search around for someone.”

The departure of the 25-year-old, who has also had spells in Sweden and Norway, capped a disappointing weekend for the Pikes.Former York City trialist Lee Elam put them to the sword in a 3-0 Albion Sports victory at Mill Lane on Saturday which saw Cook’s men drop to eighth in the table.

Two first-half headers from the 37-year-old put Albion in charge of a game in which the Pikes started well but faded away.

Ged Dalton, who headed wide from close range in the first minute, and Tom Fenwick could have given them the lead but, from there, the visitors took a grip of the game.

The opener arrived on 23 minutes when Elam nipped in unmarked from Danny Facey’s cross and scored with a superb header which gave ’keeper Callum Myers no chance.

Facey was a constant threat and hit a 25-yard shot just wide on 32 minutes after robbing Tony Hackworth. Shortly afterwards, he struck a left-foot effort from the edge of the area just over the crossbar.

After having a goal ruled out for offside, Albion doubled their lead before the break when Samuel Redhead’s centre from the right wing found Elam unmarked. His glancing header went into the roof of the net.

With Pickering looking to get back into the game in the second half, the visitors sensed more goals but, at the other end, Joe Danby and Josh Greening both wasted chances.

Myers saved superbly again from Elam but, with quarter of an hour remaining, a long clearance found Alex Cusack, whose first time pass came into the path of Facey.

He smashed his shot into the roof of the net from eight yards.

Cook added: “I think it’s three times I have seen Elam play and he’s been the best player every time. When you are facing someone like that it does make it difficult.

“I was disappointed with our performance. We didn’t play very well. We had done until we had our break and we came back and weren’t as sharp as we were. The final ball just wasn’t there.”

Pickering: Myers, Hawkes, Batchelor, Patterson, Hackworth, Dalton (Calvert 45), Fenwick (O’Connor 73), Taylor, Danby, Beadle, Greening.

A trip to struggling Nostell Miners Welfare is next up for the Pikes on Saturday, with Cook now able to call on son, Nathan, who has completed his suspension after being sent off against Brighouse last month.

Pickering have also been fined £50 after Mitch Cook was sent to the stands in that same game and the club have been warned about their future conduct by the North Riding County FA.

Pickering Town under-19s won 3-0 at Goole last week thanks to a Sam Calvert double plus an own goal, to remain top of the Northern Youth Alliance northern division.

They are next in action on Monday, January 27, when they play second-placed Scarborough Athletic.