‘Awesome’ as Pickering Town fight back to win derby thriller (From Gazette & Herald)

‘Awesome’ as Pickering Town fight back to win derby thriller

3:09pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in Sport

Pickering TOWN manager Jimmy Reid described his team’s fight-back to beat Scarborough Athletic in a derby day battle as “awesome” and hopes the arrival of three new players will see them surge up the league table.

Reid was mesmerised as his men recovered from conceding two goals in the opening 13 minutes to win 3-2 against their North Yorkshire rivals in front of a record league crowd of 648 and move up to 14th in the Northern Counties East League premier division standings.

Confirming to the Gazette & Herald that he has re-signed Gary Hepples from Athletic, recruited Dale Holding from Askern Villa and put in a seven-day approach to Bridlington Town to bring back former Pikes Under-19s defender Eddie Cass, Reid is hoping to see the club’s new-found form confirmed in Saturday’s FA Vase clash with Durham City at the Recreation Ground (3pm).

Against Boro, he gave home debuts to Pocklington’s John Heads and substitute Tom Clarke, the former Yeovil and North Ferriby player, and both impressed, but Pickering still had to come from behind at Mill Lane against the league high-fliers.

Liam Shepherd’s diving header went narrowly wide after six minutes and, against the run of play, Scarborough forged in front when Robbie Hawkes’ cross was converted by James Bennett. Five minutes later, the Pikes defence failed to clear a Tony Hackworth corner and Ryan Blott scored from 16 yards.

On the half-hour, goalkeeper Arran Reid came to Pickering’s rescue when saving Hawkes’ 18-yard shot.

The Pikes management team had worked on a new formation during the week leading up to the match and it helped to bring the Pikes level before the break.

Liam Salt began the comeback, beating three players before slotting home on 36 minutes and, on 42, Shepherd fired a brilliant shot from 18 yards which found the bottom corner.

The second half began as the first finished with Pickering in command.

Joe Danby went close but the home side went ahead a minute before the hour mark when Shepherd got his second goal – this time with a right foot shot from 16 yards.

The last 15 minutes saw Athletic throw everything at the Pikes but they defended well. Reid made good saves from Hawkes and Hackworth and the former was sent off when he hauled down Clarke in stoppage time.

Pickering: A Reid, T Reid, Gowan, Readman, Sturdy, Craig, Dalton (Clarke 63), Heads (Taylor 71), Danby, Salt (Baxter 76), Shepherd. Subs not used: McNaughton, Braithwaite.

Boss Reid said he was delighted with the result and was now looking forward to the Durham game.

Last Wednesday, the Pikes were unlucky to lose 2-1 at Staveley Miners Welfare. Jordan Eagers scored to put the home side ahead after 15 minutes and they doubled their lead three minutes before half-time thanks to a Dean Readman own goal. Liam Salt pulled a goal back for the Pikes four minutes from time.

Pickering: A Reid, T Reid, Gowan, Readman, Sturdy, Craig (Heads 59), Dalton, Danby, Fenwick (Braithwaite 85), Salt, Shepherd. Subs not used: Taylor, Hutchinson.

If Saturday’s Vase match ends in a draw, the replay will be staged in Durham on Tuesday, October 16. Durham are currently in the hands of temporary managers James Winter and Dan Madden after Richard Ord, the former Sunderland defender, quit.