PICKERING Town moved back up to second place in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League premier division League table after a 5-0 victory over strugglers Parkgate.

The Pikes replaced Bridlington Town who dropped to third in the table after losing 3-1 at Athersley Recreation.

Visiting goalkeeper Ben Hunter made a superb save after 11 minutes to deny Eddie Birch.

Three minutes later, Pikes goalkeeper Toby Wells pulled off a good save to deny Ben Thornton.

The Pikes broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Ryan Cooper scored with a right foot shot after a good pass by Robert Chipps.

Four minutes later, a Lewis Taylor corner found George Bissett whose 12 yard effort prompted another great save from Hunter.

Winger Josh Moore wasted an opportunity to equalise for Parkgate after being sent clear but shot wide from 6 yards.

Joe Danby doubled Pickering's lead in the 31st minute with a 14 yard left foot shot after good work by Birch and Taylor.

Two minutes later, Ryan Blott scored with an 18 yard shot which somehow trickled into the visitors' goal.

Ashley Emmett missed a good chance for the visitors and Taylor had a shot saved by Hunter.

The second half was less than a minute old when Ged Dalton set up Cooper to score his second goal of the game.

Parkgate then had a good spell with Moore’s effort forcing Wells into action. Joshua Dacre was cautioned following a tackle on Dalton.

Jassim Alali was cautioned for Parkgate following a challenge on Dalton and Moore wasted another good chance for the visitors after 66 minutes.

Cooper missed two good chances for the Pikes in the 68th minute before home debutant Joe Dale scored the Pikes' fifth and final goal after 71 minutes.

Pikes captain Tilsley was cautioned after 74 minutes but Kieran Hirst’s 25 yard shot from the subsequent freekick sailed over the crossbar.

The game got ugly in stoppage time with Birch cautioned and Parkgate’s Josh Moore receiving a straight red card.

Cooper was also booked.

Pikes V Parkgate: Wells, Cooper, Danby, Chipps (Dalton 29), Bissett, Tilsley, Thompson, Birch, Blott, Ingram (Dale 62), Taylor (Marshall C 84). Attendance: 122

Last Tuesday night, the Pikes were beaten 3-1 away at Bridlington Town in the fourth round of the League Cup.

The Pikes took the lead after 54 minutes courtesy of Nick Thompson but Chris Jenkinson equalised on the hour mark before a brace of goals from Jake Day in the 76th minute (penalty) and 83rd minute settled the tie.