Great expectations fail to faze Pickering Town boss (From Gazette & Herald)

Great expectations fail to faze Pickering Town boss

10:06am Friday 27th April 2012 in Sport By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

PICKERING Town manager Jimmy Reid isn’t worried by the rising expectation that will greet his men next season in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

The Pikes signed off their home campaign at the Recreation Ground on Tuesday night with a 2-0 win over Arnold Town. Both goals came in the second half – the first an own goal by Josh Handley three minutes after the break.

Jonathan Brown, main picture, secured the three points, 12 minutes from time, when nutmegging the Arnold ’keeper. The win means Reid’s men could finish as high as 11th in the table should they win their final game tomorrow at Armthorpe Welfare and other results go their way.

Having taken over just before Christmas, with Pickering putting just 12 points on the board, the turnaround has been remarkable. Tuesday night’s win took their season tally to 51 points.

But, when asked if his success and that of management team Steve Brown, Dean MacAuley and Simon Sturdy, would bring added pressure in August – with fans’ expectations raised following their rise up the league ladder – Reid was unconcerned.

“There has been a lot of pressure to get out of where we found ourselves,” he said. “I knew we would get out of it and we have played the right teams at the right time. The players we have brought in have strengthened the team and we really would like the season to keep going.

“You just have to get on with it. On the expectations for next year, you know there are a lot of teams with bigger budgets and I am a great believer in that you have to work with what you have got. I’ve had a bit extra when I have needed it but I am open to working in the same surroundings as this year.

“We will look to bring a few people in but, on a given day and a given pitch, our boys can stand up and fight with anyone.”

Reid, who also coaches the Under-19s, takes his young charges to Liversedge on Sunday (kick off 2.30pm) to take on Fields, of Bradford, in the U19s Cup Final.

Tadcaster Albion’s game against Staveley Miners’ Welfare at Ings Lane was abandoned last night and will be played on May 4. Manager Paul Marshall’s men have a trip to Barton Town Old Boys tomorrow.

Selby Town look to sign off their crushingly disappointing campaign, which has seen them relegated to division one, with a victory at fellow strugglers Maltby Main.

Scarborough Athletic are without a game in the premier division tomorrow.

Harrogate Town look to avoid relegation on the final day of Blue Square North with a win at Corby. Town, in 19th place, are just a point ahead of Vauxhall Motors and are one of four teams on 48 points.

They beat Corby 6-2 at Wetherby Road earlier in the campaign and, with Vauxhall at Droyslden, who have nothing to play for, only a victory will guarantee boss Simon Weaver’s men will stay in non-League football’s second tier.