A GOAL in each half consigned Pickering Town to a 2-0 home defeat to struggling Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Paul Marshall's Pikes sit 15th in the Evo-Stik League east division table following the defeat at Mill Lane.

The hosts wasted a glorious chance to take the lead when Lewis Taylor dragged his penalty wide of the mark in the 14th minute.

And they were made to pay nine minutes later when Rory Coleman netted for the visitors, also from the spot.

Steels doubled that advantage in the 65th minute thanks to Scott Ruthven, and Pickering were unable to respond in the closing 25 minutes.

In the same division, Tadcaster Albion were without a game on Saturday and sit fifth in the table.

Stepping up to the premier division, Scarborough Athletic are also fifth after battling to a scoreless draw at Matlock Town.

In the Northern Counties East League top flight, Knaresborough Town had a weekend off as their scheduled home match against Eccleshill United was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

However, Harrogate Railway Athletic's home clash went ahead with Handsworth Parramore claiming a 2-1 victory.

Sam Barker gave the hosts a 49th minute lead only for an Andrew Sunley own goal (59) and Jed Phillips finish (61) to turn the game on its head.

In division one, Selby Town failed to match the energy of their hosts, Shirebrook Town, slipping to a 3-1 defeat.

However, it was the Robins who struck first with a seventh-minute goal.

Fraser Hanson made progress down the wing to get behind the opposition defence. He fired in a fierce cross-shot, which the goalkeeper managed to keep out before the ball rebounded off Liam Flanagan into the net.

Just after the half hour, Selby had the opportunity to double that lead from the spot when a penalty was awarded for handball. However, Flanagan's effort was saved.

That miss was compounded as Shirebrook netted two quickfire goals to surge ahead.

In each case, home centre back Carter Widdowson sent a long ball into the channel down the right side of the Selby defence, and Ben Charlesworth left the Town defence trailing in his wake before firing home.

In the second half, Selby conceded the goal which killed off any chance they had of getting something from the game.

Three defenders looked like they had the situation under control, but when they failed to clear Lewis Macaskill nipped in behind to place the ball past Jody Barford.

Selby's misery was compounded when Reuben Pearse received a straight red card.

Tomorrow evening, the Robins welcome FC Halifax Town to The Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium for a West Riding County Cup quarter-final, with a semi-final match away at Ossett United the prize for the victors.

Finally, Harrogate Town got back to winning ways in the National League with an impressive 3-1 home victory over Hartlepool United. Lloyd Kerry, Jack Muldoon and Mark Beck were on target for the hosts at the CNG Stadium.

* TADCASTER Albion's i2i Stadium will host the Premier League Cup game between Leeds United Under-23s and their Southampton counterparts tomorrow evening.

The group stage splits 32 Category 1 to 4 sides into eight groups of four, with each quartet playing home and away and the top two going through to the last-16.

Leeds and Southampton are in a group with Newcastle United and Notts County.

Ahead of this fourth round of fixtures, Leeds sit third, four points behind the group-topping Saints who are ahead of Newcastle on goal difference.

Kicks off is 7pm. Entry for adults is £3, concessions £1 and U16s are free.