Ryedale | Archive | 2003 | August | 06
From the Gazette & Herald, first published Wednesday 6th Aug 2003.
Pickering Town 2 - York City 2. THE Pikes continued their impressive build-up to the new campaign with a draw against a strong York City side on Monday night.
Town, who beat UniBond league side Spenymoor the week before, were full value for the result. Were it not for a last-minute equaliser from York's Liam George, they would have come away with a memorable victory.
In front of a big crowd of around 450 at Mill Lane, Pickering played the better football for large periods of the game to turn a 1-0 half-time deficit into a 2-1 lead.
On a carpet of a pitch, the Pikes almost went ahead in the opening quarter when an error from City player-manager Chris Brass let in Dean MacAuley, whose attempted chip was kept out by advancing goalkeeper Mark Ovendale, with Brass grateful to clear the follow-up off the line.
Ovendale certainly had to be focused as Pickering were the more threatening in the first half-hour, especially through MacAuley, who forced a pin-point block from City's new keeper, Adam Wash and Mark Wood. However, things changed once the visitors broke through after 27 minutes.
Chris Smith's forward pass was flicked on by Lee Bullock and George turned his man skilfully to fire home, with City then taking control without stretching themselves too much. George curled one over, while left wing-back Stephen Downes - who was getting forward more than Darren Edmondson on the right - was superbly denied by keeper Kevin Martin.
Nevertheless, Pickering - who rotated their subs while City treated it like a proper dress rehearsal - came out for the second half with renewed energy and they deserved their two goals.
On 60 minutes, a sweet move saw Joe Connor cross low first time from the left for MacAuley to knock the ball home. Six minutes later, after Bullock had fired just wide at the other end, Ricky Greening - brother of the watching Middlesbrough star Jonathan, the ex-City hero - sped down the left with his cross-shot being touched in by Adam Wash.
The way Ovendale and Brass complained about the lack of a flag indicated their professional pride had taken a knock. Even so, it could have been worse as City were thankful for the offside trap while Pickering seemed to have the better ideas in attack, being denied a third in a goalmouth scramble.
Nonetheless, City did step up a gear, though their 89th minute equaliser was met with relief more than anything else. Downes put over an in-swinger and George flicked it in.
Despite the Pikes almost pulling off a shock win, boss Steve Brown was bothered about the quality of his side's display than the result.
"Our shape and pattern was good, we showed character when it got tough, we never stopped working, we played football when we had the chance. We created a lot of chances and could have been two or three-nil up before they scored. I'm very pleased with all my players."
Brown, who believes his side are carrying on the momentum from the end of last season, when his side climbed clear of relegation with ease, added: "We have played two strong outfits in the last two weeks and people have seen us in a good light. We are enthusiastic and energetic and enjoying it."
At the same time, he was not getting carried away with the result, believing York had one eye on their opening match at Carlisle.
"I've no doubts that they had Saturday in mind and I think that's sensible. I was quite impressed with York, they had another gear when they wanted it."
Brown, a former York City kit manager, added: "We really appreciated them coming down. It was excellent for us. A lot of their movement caused us problems and it was good for our players to see that sort of thing, it gets them thinking."
York boss Brass had a word of praise for the Pikes. "It was a good test for us," he said.
"We started alright but all credit to Pickering, they raised their game. They had a few points to prove and they proved them."
The Pikes face one more pre-season match, at home to Garforth next Tuesday, before their first league match at Osset Albion on August 16.
Teams - Pikes: Kevin Martin, Tom Reid, Danny Brunton, Danny Farthing, Rob Eales, Alex Willgrass, James Drinkall, Dean MacAuley, Adam Wash, Mark Wood, Gavin Dickinson. Subs all used: Mark Price, Ricky Greening, Peter Vasey, Joe Connor, Steve Young, Daniel Gildea.
York City: Mark Ovendale, Darren Edmondson, Chris Smith (Sean Davies 76 - replaced by Scott Jones 86), Chris Brass, Stuart Wise, Stephen Downes, Lee Bullock, Mitch Ward (Richard Cooper 75), Leigh Wood, Lee Nogan, Liam George.
Updated: 11:15 Wednesday, August 06, 2003
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