MANAGER Denny Ingram says it has been "up and down" so far for Pickering Town - but he is optimistic for the second half of the campaign.

Pickering ended the year at the foot of the Northern Premier League north/west division, and up until the end of November, had only one league win to their name.

But a 4-1 win over Dunston and a 3-2 win over Colne have brought the Pikes back into survival contention and they are now just four points off 16th place.

The Pikes kick off 2020 by welcoming Ingram's former side Tadcaster Albion to Mill Lane.

And though he has fond memories of his two seasons with the Brewers, he says this time is all about business.

"It's been very up and down," said Ingram of term thus far. "Hopefully things are starting to turn around.

"We know what position we're in and what we need to do.

"I'm very confident with the boys we've managed to bring in over the last four to six weeks we'll have enough to reach our goal by the end of the season.

"We're always looking to improve and we'll be keeping our eye out for if anything becomes available.

"Home form was always going to be key for us.

"We've played a lot of games away from home, where we haven't had a bad run of it these last weeks.

"Hopefully we'll keep picking up points and wins at home and start picking up points away from home."

Taddy are vying for the play-offs, occupying fifth spot in the table.

"It's a lovely little club," said Ingram. "I enjoyed my time there, I met some great people and I played with good footballers.

"But ultimately, I'm the Pickering Town manager now and that's all I'm focusing on."