MITCH COOK feels Pickering Town were "unlucky not to get all three points" when they fell narrowly in a keenly contested derby clash at Tadcaster Albion.

The Recreation Ground chief was heartened after his side, who have struggled for consistency in the Northern Counties East League premier division all season, went to Ings Lane and gave the table-toppers a real fright before losing 2-1.

Former Pikes favourite Josh Greening gave Taddy the lead after 10 minutes but the visitors thought they had levelled in the first period - only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Pickering continued to fight hard and deserved to get back on level terms after 62 minutes thanks to a superb goal from Joe Danby. The leaders went back in front with eight minutes left as another former Pikes player, Tom Chamberlain, scored but Cook's men were unlucky not to get an equaliser in the closing minutes.

Late on, Robbie Hawkes was sent off.

"We think we deserved a point and we were unlucky not to get all three," said the Pickering boss, who has now called on his charges to take that performance on to Saturday when Staveley Miners Welfare come to Ryedale.

"They are top of the league and that's why they are there. We can't do anything about luck and officials. The atmosphere was brilliant. There was more than 500 in the ground and our lads rose to it and gave it their all.

"There is nothing we can do about what happened. All we can do is take it into the next game. Staveley were the last team to beat Tadcaster so nothing comes easily.

"On chances created, we probably had more and their man of the match was their goalkeeper. We created the opportunities. What good teams do is win games when they are not playing well. We seem to have to play magnificently at the moment. Hopefully, that will change."

Saturday's Staveley clash will be Pickering's first weekend home game in a month.

November is shaping up to be a busy move with two re-arranged league games, on the 4th at Nostell NW and the 11th at Parkgate. Other games include Barton in the third round of the League Cup.