Pikes progress after threat to boot out players lacking ‘battle’ (From Gazette & Herald)

Pickering Town progress after threat to boot out players lacking ‘battle’

3:52pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in Sport

Pickering TOWN manager Jimmy Reid has admitted he could ship out some of his underperforming players despite the Recreation Ground outfit winning through to the first round proper of the FA Vase.

The Pikes boss said he was pleased with his side’s performance after a late show saw them beat students Team Northumbria 3-1 in the Vase second round qualifying – netting the club a useful £700. They will now host Durham City on October 13.

But he had been less happy earlier in the week when Bridlington thumped his Northern Counties East League premier division strugglers 4-1 and said that, regardless of Saturday’s win, he, along with coaches Steve Brown and Simon Sturdy, would sit down and discuss whether “we need to change a bit of direction”.

Reid has confessed to tiring of a lack of “battling” which he has perceived in several members of his squad.

“You need to win more battles than you lose, that’s how you win the game,” Reid explained. “If you win six or seven of those battles you win the game. Too many of our boys don’t win the battles.

“Either one or two are going to have to shape up or go, or I will be going, and I won’t be going. You have to fight your corner.”

He added: “Maybe we need to change a bit of direction. We need to change something. Maybe we need to get some more players in and shape up a few. All I want my players to do is to go out on the pitch and come off with no petrol left in the tank.”

With no midweek match this week, Reid held a training session last night and was staging a practice game tonight (Wednesday) for the fringe players. He added that supporters must note the recent losses of Joel Ramm and Tommy Adams to Scarborough Athletic, Carl Stewart to Bridlington Town, and Russell Parker.

In three weeks, Matty Turnbull will also leave to play cricket in Australia.Pickering were indebted to two late goals to see them progress to the first round proper of the Vase over Team Northumbria.

The Tynesiders, who play in the first division of the Northern League, started the game well and former Newcastle United junior Ben Sayer combined well with Dan Riley, only for the former to clear the crossbar.

The Pikes first real attack arrived on the half-hour mark.

Joe Connor’s free-kick from the right found Steve Baxter, whose header hit the top of the crossbar and, three minutes later, Baxter teamed up with Ged Dalton to give Liam Salt a great chance but a timely tackle by Ross Wilkinson prevented a goal.

That goal came a minute before half-time when, following Liam Shepherd’s corner, visiting ’keeper Andrew Jennison dropped the ball at the feet of Matty Turnbull. He made no mistake from six yards.

The second half was an end-to-end affair, the Pikes looking for a second goal, while Team Northumbria sought to get back into the game.

They equalised with six minutes remaining when a harmless looking cross from Arron Brookbank was diverted into his own goal by Dean Readman.

With extra time on the cards, Pickering won a penalty with two minutes left when Lee Scott handled a Lewis Taylor shot. Salt placed his hard shot low into the net. Reid’s men then made the game safe in stoppage time with a flowing move.

Taylor beat a couple of players deep in his own half and sent Tom Fenwick away, who beat a defender before coolly slotting the ball into the net.

Pickering: A Reid, T Reid, Readman, Turnbull, Sturdy, Craig, Dalton (Danby 79), Connor (Taylor 60), Baxter (Fenwick 60), Salt, Shepherd. Subs not used: Willoughby, Rivis.

Former Pike Carl Stewart put his old side to the sword when he netted a brace in Bridlington’s 4-1 league win over Pickering. Craig Hogg and Tom Flemming also scored for the home side while Baxter’s first-half reply proved to be little consolation.

Pickering: A Reid, T Reid, Asquith (Willoughby 45), Readman, Sturdy, Turnbull, Danby, Connor (Taylor 59), Baxter (Fenwick 71), Salt, Shepherd. Subs not used: McNaughton, Dalton.

The Pikes are at home to Hall Road Rangers on Saturday (3pm) and go to near neighbours Tadcaster Albion for a derby clash on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Dean Readman will miss the Tadcaster game, serving a one-match ban for his sending-off against Parkgate earlier this month.