PICKERING Town failed to derail Emley’s promotion push on Saturday, falling to a 1-0 defeat in the NCEL premier division.

The Pikes were far stronger in defence than their frail league position suggests, restricting their second-placed hosts to few efforts on target until Donae Lawrence struck the killer blow with 15 minutes remaining.

Things worsened for the visitors in injury time, Matty Robinson seeing himself dismissed for a second bookable offence after lashing out at goalkeeper Declan Lambton following a skirmish in the penalty area.

With the division’s tightest defence by some margin, scoring against the West Yorkshire club has been a struggle for many teams this season, a prospect made ever-tougher for the Pikes owing to the suspension of Kieran Stares.

The impressive Wayne Kitula started in his place, whilst Toby Wells replaced Harrison McGuire between the sticks, and Robinson was preferred to Liam Love in defence.

Reuben Jerome gave Pickering a taste of what to expect inside the opening minute, his fierce goal-bound effort only straying wide of the net thanks to a fantastic block.

Paul Walker was next to try his hand at goal for the hosts with 10 minutes on the clock, winning his side a corner.

His delivery into a crowded box proved to be a teasing one, but thankfully for the Pikes, it was cleared.

Frustration soon began to creep into the home forwards, who felt even more aggrieved when Wells went unpunished after appearing to have brought down Iyrwah Gooden on the edge of the box with half an hour played.

Joseph Kenny saw his long-range strike whistle past the post in the last action of the first half, with neither side able to break the deadlock before the break.

Emley remained camped in the Pickering half after the interval, but struggled to connect the dots in their attack.

But successive corners would provide them with an opportunity that was too good to miss.

Though initially cleared, Ross Hardaker saw his delivery fall at the feet of Lawrence, who finished sweetly into the left corner on the half-volley to crucially nudge his side in front.

Gooden fired into the side netting as Emley looked to add to their lead but it was Pickering who had the last word after captain Wayne Brooksby fired a hopeful ball forward into the box in search of a point.

Lambton rose highest to claim, but was caught high by Robinson, the Pickering man seeing red in the aftermath.

Nonetheless, a far improved display from the Pikes, who next host Penistone Church on Saturday (3pm).