Jonny Brown rescues a point for Pickering Town

It was only the Pikes’ sixth league point of the season but it lifted them up to third-from-bottom of the Northern Counties East League premier division and renewed hopes they could rise away from the danger zone – ahead of their big clash with former manager Mitch Cook’s high-flying Bridlington Town side this Saturday.

It was a much better team performance by Pete Vasey’s men and an entertaining game in front of a crowd of 98.

It was Brown’s second game for the club after joining from Wearside League outfit Kirkbymoorside, and the match also saw Paul Hodgson, Brown’s Moorsiders team-mate last season, enjoy an impressive debut at centre-back, making several important tackles. Hodgson has moved to Mill Lane from Northallerton Town.

The game began in lively fashion with Stuart Rice shooting over for Pickering, while, for Thackley, Ben Hardy, Nicky Matthews and Matt Morgan all went close.

Thackley took the lead after 25 minutes, as an excellent through ball by Chris Davey found Ben Hardy, who ran into the area, beat two defenders and coolly dribbled the ball round goalkeeper Chris Barratt before slotting home.

The Pikes equalised three minutes later as Chaz Wrigley’s shot took a wicked deflection off a defender and looped over the ’keeper and in.

A minute later, a long clearance by Barratt was flicked on by Brown to Darren Brandon but Matt Convey saved well.

But the Pikes did take the lead after 41 minutes through Richard Batley’s 20-yard angled shot from the right, which flew into the Thackley goal.

The visitors equalised after 50 minutes, as a right-wing cross by Callum White found Nicky Matthews, who scored with a superb header. It came after Pikes defender Chris Gowan lost the ball in midfield to Matt Morgan, who swung it out to White.

The game erupted in the 53rd minute when Wrigley and Chris Davey clashed in centrefield. Wrigley appeared to throw a punch but Scarborough referee Oliver O’Brien, in his first season at this level, just warned both players.

There was more drama four minutes later as Thackley were awarded a penalty when assistant-referee Andy Wood, of Seamer, deemed Lee Pallender had held a player back.

Ben Hardy’s spot-kick was saved by Barratt, and Hardy headed the rebound over.

Nevetheless, Thackley regained the lead just two minutes later, Hardy making amends for his penalty miss by firing home his second goal with a 25-yard right-foot shot.

It was a big blow to the struggling Pikes but they then fought back into the game after Vasey introduced substitutes Steve Baxter and Reece Richards, with both causing Thackley problems.

The deserved equaliser finally came when a Gowan free-kick into a crowded penalty area saw Brown outjump the visitors’ defence to get in a powerful header.

Pickering could have won the game in the last four minutes as Joel Ramm, after good work by Richards, saw his shot was saved, and Steve Baxter’s effort from a Richards cross went over the bar.

Pickering: Barratt, Parker, Gowen, Batley, Pallender, Hodgson, Wrigley (Richards 66), Rice, Brown, Ramm, Brandon (Baxter 62). Subs not used: Cass, Andrew, Taylor.

The Pikes’ confidence will be severely tested on Saturday as they go to Bridlington, the current league leaders (3pm). Brid include several former Pikes including Darren Clough, who scored in their 3-1 victory at Long Eaton on Saturday.

Pickering are not running a coach to this game. Brid play on Queensgate, off the A1038 St John’s Street, which is the main road into Bridlington from Scarborough.

The Pikes have an important game on Tuesday, November 8, at home to Scarborough Town in the second round of the North Riding County FA Senior Cup (7.45pm).

Scarborough Town have re-formed this season and play in the Humber Premier League first division.

The Pikes will also now play Lincoln Moorlands in a rearranged game on Saturday, November 19 (3pm), as original opponents Staveley are on FA Vase duty. It will mean back-to-back games against Moorlands, whom they host on Saturday, November 12.