PICKERING Town's season enters a major crossroads next week - with a festive double-header against local rivals Bridlington Town, writes Ian Appleyard.

The two title contenders meet in consecutive fixtures in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division and the results could potentially make-or-break seasonal aspirations.

The first game takes places on Boxing Day at Bridlington's Queensgate home, kick-off 3pm, and the second at Mill Lane on Monday January 2, kick-off 3pm.

Back-to-back victories would keep the Pikes or the Seasiders hot on the heels of leaders Cleethorpes Town (who have played three extra games) and, in the process, strike a blow to the other's ambitions.

Paul Marshall's Pikes currently sit third in the table - one point ahead of fourth placed Bridlington - with both having played 21 games.

Both clubs are in terrific form with the Pikes winning 15 of their last 19 league games and taking 22 points from a possible 24 in the last eight games.

The Seasiders, meanwhile, have won 15 games out of 17 since the appointment of Curtis Woodhouse as manager and beat Cleethorpes at home last weekend.

The clubs have already met once this season when a late Lewis Taylor penalty gave the Pikes a 1-0 victory at Queensgate in the FA Vase on October 23.

That result will count for little, however, in the forthcoming fixtures.

Former Sheffield United and Birmingham City midfielder Woodhouse hit the headlines a decade ago when quitting football to take up professional boxing.

Commenting on his club's current form, he said: "It's been frustrating for me as a manager because we have won 13 out of 14 games and not even put a dent in Cleethorpes because they have been on a great run as well! But it was nice to take three points off them last week.

On the possibility of catching Cleethorpes who have a ten point lead over Pickering, Woodhouse said: "They are going to be very difficult to peg back but all we can do is our bit."

Woodhouse, meanwhile, has revealed that he now takes his Bridlington players to a local boxing gym in a bid to add more strength to their armoury.

As a professional fighter, Woodhouse lifted the British super-lightweight title, but he says: "We have got no boxers in there! However, our fitness and work ethic against Cleethorpes was second to none."

The Pikes recorded back-to-back victories last week in league games against Harrogate Railway Athletic and Rainworth Miners Welfare.

On a damp Tuesday night at Mill Lane, the Pikes scored five goals without reply against the men from Harrogate.

Billy Logan opened the scoring five minutes before the interval with a header to meet a Robert Chipps freekick.

Eddy Birch then put the Pikes in complete control with two goals in the space of three minutes. Ryan Blott added a fourth in the 66th minute before George Bissett made it 5-0 eight minutes from the end with a header.

On Saturday, the Pikes held off a late fightback to win 4-3 at Rainworth Miners Welfare.

Logan opened the scoring after 20 minutes with a shot that was too hot for goalkeeper Townsend to hold.

Birch then scored direct from a corner four minutes later and Logan made it 3-0 after beating two defenders and slotting the ball home.

Declan Brewin pulled a goal back for Rainworth on 31 minutes but Nick Thompson made it 4-1 to the Pikes early in the second half.

Goals from Harry Bamford (71) and Nick Langford (74) then set up a tense finale and Rob Ludlam went close to an equaliser with a shot over the bar on 79 minutes.

Bridlington, meanwhile, won 2-0 at Cleethorpes courtesy of goals from Nicky McNamara and Joel Sutton.

It was only the second league defeat of the season for Cleethorpes - following their 2-0 defeat by Pickering last month.