FA Vase second round - Shildon 2, Pickering Town 0. Pickering Town's FA Vase run started and ended at Shildon last Saturday when they were beaten by a brace of Gary Barnes' goals in the second half.

The former Darlington and Spennymoor United marksman already has a total of 35 league and cup goals this season.

Shildon were much the better side in the first half with a 35-yard shot from Matthew Morton and a break from Ricky Greening the only times the Pikes threatened.

The home side's former Darlington and Hartlepool player Lee Ellison shot wide with the goal at his mercy after 17 minutes. Midway through the half, Shildon piled the pressure on.

Danny Key, David Bayles, Gary Barnes and Lee Ellison all wasted good efforts by either shooting wide or over the bar. Despite being under the cosh, the Pikes' keeper Kevin Martin didn't have a real save to make.

The second half started well for the Pikes and they controlled the opening 15 minutes of the half. Scott Emerson went close twice after 46 and 48 minutes, with Jackson saving the first effort superbly.

After 50 minutes, the Pikes had their best chance of the game. A neat move involving a fine one-two between Morton and Dickinson ended with Dickinson heading wide from six yards. On the hour, a Dickinson right-wing corner found Alex Willgrass, whose effort went just wide.

Shildon, known as The Railwaymen, then took over for the remainder of the game. Barnes wasted a good chance after 61 minutes, but his side took the lead after 69 minutes when Bayles supplied an excellent through-ball for Barnes to run onto and slot the ball under the advancing Martin with a right foot shot.

James Drinkall and Scott Emerson both went close for the Pikes in the 78th and 80th minutes, but Barnes got the clincher in the 83rd minute after linking up again with Bayles. In stoppage time, Kevin Martin saved well to prevent Lee Ellison from scoring.

Pikes' boss Steve Brown said: "We were fortunate to go in 0-0 at half-time and we rode our luck. But we got a good response from the boys and had three or four good second-half chances. They scored against the run of play and then the plans go out of the window some what. It was even in the second half but goals win you games. Over the 90 minutes, they had the better chances so I've no real complaints."

Of Shildon, who reached the first round of the FA Cup this season, Brown added: "They are the best team we've played this year. Their movement was very good and I had to remind the players of how we played against York City to try and combat them."

Pikes' team: Martin, MacAuley, Brunton, Eales, Vasey (Ellwood, 90 mins), Willgrass, Drinkall (Connor, 88 mins), Morton (Russell, 75 mins), Greening, Emmerson and Dickinson. Crowd: 324.

This Saturday, the Pikes return to league duty, after a two-week cup break, with a home fixture against Armthorpe Welfare. The Pikes did the double over Armthorpe last season, winning both games 4-1.

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Pickering have been drawn away to Glasshoughton Welfare in the third round of the NCE League Cup. Glasshoughton are currently second from bottom in the premier division.

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The Pikes' fixtures for December are: 6th, Liversedge (h), 20th, Eastwood Town (h), 27th, Glasshoughton Welfare (a). The scheduled trip to Eastwood Town on December 13 will have to be re-arranged as Eastwood are still in the FA Vase.

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The reserves lost 3-2 at Goole last Saturday. The Pikes' marksmen were Matt Fannon and sub Liam Salt. They visit Harrogate Railway this Saturday.

Updated: 11:12 Wednesday, November 26, 2003