Pickering Town to host Billingham Synthonia in FA Vase second round (From Gazette & Herald)

Pickering Town to host Billingham Synthonia in FA Vase second round

3:32pm Wednesday 17th October 2012 in Sport

Pickering TOWN will host Billingham Synthonia in the second round of the FA Vase after a come-from-behind victory against Durham City.

The Recreation Ground-based club banked £900 for their 4-1 success over the Cathedral outfit, to go with £1,200 won from their two previous games in the competition, and will now host the Teessiders on November 17, with another £1,200 up for grabs.

Synthonia, famous for starting the career of Brian Clough and, more latterly, for seeing former Premier League players Craig Hignett and Curtis Fleming enjoy spells at Central Avenue, are the only club in England to be named after an agricultural fertiliser – synthetic ammonia. They lie fourth in the Northern League first division.

Manager Jimmy Reid thought his side were “full value” for their win at Mill Lane but he was less pleased when learning Scarborough Athletic had put in a seven-day approach for attacking midfielder Ged Dalton – who played for the old Scarborough club when they were in Conference North and is their youngest-ever scorer. Pickering are hoping he will resist their approach.

Durham, meanwhile, gave Pickering an early scare when taking the lead after seven minutes. Simon Sturdy gifted them the goal, when missing a tackle which allowed Scott Fenwick to run through and beat the advancing Aaran Reid. It only served to wake up the sleeping home side.

Joe Danby, Chris Gowen, Liam Shepherd and Liam Salt all went close before the latter equalised on 14 minutes – tapping in at the far post after an excellent cross from Shepherd.

Four minutes later, Salt turned provider for Danby. His strong run into the box, and staying on his feet after a tackle, saw him find Danby unmarked for a simple finish.

Dean Craig and Danby came close to increasing Pickering’s lead and they went further ahead seven minutes into the second half when Salt thumped home a penalty after Dalton was fouled by Max Stoker.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic. Durham had the odd breakaway through Scott Fenwick and Jack Pounder but Pickering central defenders Sturdy and Dean Readman battled well to keep them out.The home side then sealed the game, 14 minutes from time, when Tom Reid surged down the right and his cross found Tom Clarke, who finished in style from close range to score his first goal for the club.

Pickering: A Reid, T Reid, Gowen, Readman, Sturdy, Craig, Dalton, Heads (Taylor 67), Danby (Clarke 55), Salt (Baxter 75), Shepherd. Subs not used: McNaughton, Fenwick.

Reid said he was very pleased with his team’s all-round performance following a nervous start to the game and thought they thoroughly deserved their victory.

The Pikes are at Maltby Main tonight (Wednesday) in Northern Counties East League premier division action (kick off 7.45pm), and on Saturday they entertain Liversedge (3pm).