PICKERING TOWN manager Paul Marshall bemoaned lapses in concentration that threaten to cost Pickering Town points in the Northern Counties East League premier division.

Despite a five-game unbeaten run that has consolidated their ninth place position the Pikes have thrown away first-half leads in their last three games against Parkgate, Athersley Recreation and Clipstone.

They defeated Parkgate 3-2 on Saturday, which means they have not kept a clean sheet in the league since their 1-0 win at Bridlington Town in October.

This is a fact of which the Recreation Ground chief is all too aware, saying: “We talk about it all the time.

“Every time I say at half- time ‘keep a clean sheet’, we go and concede.

“It looks like we’re going to have to score three goals to win a game of football nowadays” he added.

“It’s a mentality thing really, probably the more I go on about it the worse it gets.”

Marshall believed that his team’s poor recent record at defending set pieces was symptomatic of their lack of concentration.

He commented: “Sometimes you have good runs at defending them, at the moment we’re on a poor run.

“Nothing’s changed in how we do it, I just think it is lads switching off”

“Maybe their minds wander or something like that, but you can’t take liberties against any team at this level.”

After five games in a row on home soil, Pickering travel to struggling Pontefract Collieries on Saturday.

They will be able to call upon central defender Matty Turnbull, absent for Saturday’s visit of Parkgate.

Although Saturday’s hosts have lost their last nine games, they beat Pickering in the reverse fixture and Marshall expected a tough contest, saying: “It’ll be another rough game on a poor pitch.

“They’ve had a few games called off and a lot of rain down there.

“It’ll be a tough encounter, no different to any game at this level” he stated.

“There’s nobody playing passing football on these pitches, its roll your sleeves up, get stuck in and if you don’t work hard enough you get beat.”

Toby Wells continues to win the battle for the goalkeepers’ jersey and made several crucial saves once again to preserve the narrow Parkgate victory.

His manager commented: “I think Peter (Lawrie) understands that it’s hard to change it when Toby’s playing so well.

“That’s the rules, isn’t it, until something goes wrong we’ll leave it.”

Marshall made three changes to his team on Saturday. Ryan Cooper came straight back in after serving his ban, assistant player-manager Denny Ingram made a rare appearance in defence and Liam Shepherd made his second debut for the club after his recent arrival from Whitby Town.

He praised Shepherd’s performance on his return: “Liam did well.

“Maybe he tired a little bit as he hadn’t had much football, his last start was in early December for Whitby so it’s been a while since he’s played.

“We left (James) Bennett and Lewis (Taylor) out this week, these heavy pitches are difficult for your flair players and your quality players.

“That was the thinking behind it, bringing Cooper back in for his energy and he got his goal.”

The Pikes boasted a strong five-man substitute’s bench against Parkgate. Marshall saw this as a sign of the quality of his squad that he believes can make inroads into the top half: “We’ve got a good squad here, the bench is strong now.

“You look at the bench and that determines what sort of team you’ve got and ours is strong.

“We’ve still got to play Albion, Staveley, Barton and we’re looking to get in front of them, although I don’t think we’re going to break into the top five.”