NCEL Premier Division - Pickering Town 1, Liversedge 2. Pickering Town's unbeaten home league record was lost last Saturday to a well-organised and battling Liversedge side.

The West Yorkshire side sounded a warning to the Pikes as early as the ninth minute when, after their two front men had linked up superbly, Gareth Hamlet rounded Kevin Martin but Rob Eeles cleared off the line. The Pikes first real attempt on goal came after 13 minutes. Joe Connor put a right-wing free-kick onto the head of James Drinkall, who headed just over.

On the half-hour mark, Gavin Dickinson's right-wing corner found Matthew Morton, whose header was superbly saved by the visitors' keeper Kyle Sutcliffe. Two minutes before half-time, Danny Brunton linked up well with Connor to set up Drinkall, whose well-struck 20-yard effort was tipped over for a corner. From the resulting set piece, Willgrass's corner hit Liversedge's Wes Milnes and looked goalbound but Adam Goldthorpe cleared off the line.

The second half started with the Pikes on top and they took the lead after 53 minutes. A right-wing corner by Willgrass found Scott Emmerson, whose effort was blocked on the line but Eeles followed up and forced the ball over the line.

Danny Brunton, who was his usual consistent self down the left, set up Emmerson after 56 minutes, whose shot was well saved. Four minutes later, Russell missed a good chance with a header after Connor had set him up.

Liversedge began to come into the game more and equalised after 72 minutes. A left-wing free-kick from Nick Heinemann found sub Pav Singh, whose superb through-ball found Gareth Hamlett, who scored with a low, powerful shot. Two minutes later, Liversedge had a strong appeal turned down by referee Sean Barber when Matthew Morton appeared to trip Nestor in the box.

The winning goal came after 75 minutes when Gareth Hamlet scored with a six-yard angled shot, taking advantage of poor defensive play by the Pikes.

Pikes' boss Steve Brown said: "After 70 minutes we were a goal up and I was happy. I thought there was a large slice of fortune about their first goal but we were careless in conceding the second. We lost our discipline and there was no response from us."

Pickering will have striker Mark Wood and, possibly Luke Ibbotson, who is due back for seven weeks from a spell abroad, available for the visit to Glapwell this week. The reserves are at Ossett Albion in the League Cup.

Pickering have been drawn at home to Marske United in the North Riding County FA Senior Cup. The other ties are York City v Whitby Town or Thornaby, Guisborough Town v Scarborough, Middlesbrough v Carlin How. Ties must be played by January 31.

Mark Willoughby has joined former Pickering manager Jimmy Reid at Goole.

Updated: 12:13 Wednesday, December 10, 2003