YOU’D be forgiven for thinking that a three-goal cushion is enough for victory, but that proved not to be the case as Pickering Town were undone by the mother of all comebacks at Eccleshill United on Saturday.

Tony Hackworth’s side were cruising with a 4-1 lead at the interval, but collapsed to find themselves on the wrong side of a nine-goal thriller in West Yorkshire.

The result sees Pickering slide to second-last in the NCEL premier division, with Eccleshill three points better off in 15th.

Hackworth made four changes to the side that lost 7-0 to Garforth last week, with Jamie Thornton, Matty Robinson, Brad Mills and Blake Drury all dropping out of the starting line-up.

Paul Roddam made his 50th Pikes appearance in midfield, whilst forward Omar Sanyang was handed a start after re-joining the club on dual registration from North Ferriby.

Eccleshill started like a train, Zack Sangster being left with a tap-in from a right-wing cross just five minutes into proceedings.

But the Pikes were in front just over 10 minutes later after a quick-fire Sanyang double.

The returning forward first fired superbly into the bottom corner before keeping his cool after Rob Guilfoyle played him in one-on-one with goalkeeper Ed Wilzynski.

Guilfoyle again turned provider for Roddam midway through the half, the midfielder left with the simplest of finishes from five yards to double the Pikes’ lead.

And there was still time for skipper Wayne Brooksby to add his name to the scoresheet just before the interval after a neat one-two with Matty Dawes.

But things would come crashing down for Pickering in the second half.

Cole Roberts fired into the top corner past Toby Wells eight minutes into the half, before the ex-Pikes and Bradford City striker brought the scores back within one just before the hour mark.

But Phillip Nkomo ensured that a crucial three points were Eccleshill’s, twice capitalising on poor defending to complete the turnaround a minute from time after Kieran Stares had been dismissed.

Pickering return to action against Golcar United in the Second Round of the League Cup at Mill Lane this evening (7:45pm).