PICKERING Town boss Denny Ingram is hopeful Saturday's home game against Widnes can provide a necessary boost in confidence.

The Pikes have conceded seven times in three games and remain rooted to the foot of the Northern Premier League north/west division following a 1-0 defeat at Mossley.

Their fortunes took a little upturn with a goalless FA Trophy draw at Prescot Cables - but the replay ended in a 3-0 defeat at Mill Lane. This, following the previous week's 3-0 loss to City of Liverpool.

Ingram said: "Having a home game will hopefully help us a little with confidence if we can put in a positive performance and, fingers crossed, get the right result.

"The lads did well (at Prescot) to grind out our first clean sheet of the season. I was pleased with that result. The three after haven't been good enough.

"It's not only conceding, but the manner we're conceding in. They're avoidable goals, and we've shown no real threat going forward. Especially Saturday - we could still be there now and we wouldn't have threatened their goal.

"I can't fault my two centre-backs, Matty Turnbull and Niall Tilsley. They're putting their bodies on the line. But we're still conceding poor goals.

"Certainly, if you're not creating going forward, you can't afford to concede sloppy goals as we have done in the last three games.

"I'm always concerned about losing games, regardless of (league position).

"I said to the lads, no one's going to give you anything in this league. You need to earn it, and we need to start picking up points quickly."

Will Taylor and Elliot Holmes have signed from North Ferriby United and Bradford Park Avenue, respectively.

Last night, Pickering hosted Whitby Town in the League Cup first round.