NCEL Premier Division, Pickering Town 1 - Mickleover Sports 0. IN Pickering boss Steve Brown's words, it was a case of "after the lord mayor's show" at Mill Lane last Saturday, following on from his side's superb display at Brigg the week before.

Newly-promoted Mickleover didn't deserve to go back to Derby with nothing. But after outplaying league leaders Brigg the previous week only to lose, the Pikes were due some luck.

The game, which saw a catalogue of bookings, wasn't helped by some poor refereeing decisions. As early as the fifth minute, referee Alan Greenwood failed to take a firm grip on the game. Two players were let off with a warning despite a skirmish in front of the assistant referee.

The first chance of a scrappy first half came after 12 minutes when Joe Connor and Danny Brunton combined well down the left to set up former York City striker, Scott Emmerson, making his first start in a Pikes shirt, who shot just wide from 12 yards.

At the other end, Mark Strezszwike headed just wide before Carl Cunningham missed the best chance of the half, lobbing wide of Pikes' keeper Kevin Martin and the goal.

Ricky Greening headed over the bar for the Pikes after 32 minutes following a good build up by Brunton, Emmerson and Connor. Two minutes later, Martin saved Chris Parkin's 25-yard shot. His long clearance sent Matthew Morton away, whose superbly-struck shot from outside the box grazed the post.

Seven minutes into the second half, Dean MacAuley set up Emmerson, who headed just over. Pikes' skipper Alex Willgrass was cautioned after 56 minutes for time-wasting. The referee ordered him three times to take a free-kick and despite Willgrass's insistence that he was waiting for players to get into position, he was shown the yellow card. The home crowd, incensed by the decision, became more vocal and spurred the Pikes on to their best spell. After 58 minutes, Greening's header was partially cleared to Gavin Dickinson 25 yards from goal. After beating three men, Dickinson's shot was parried by keeper Mark Wilson into the path of Emmerson, who made no mistake from close range to open his account for the Pikes with a true striker's goal.

Two minutes later, Dickinson was busy at the other end, intercepting a goal-bound effort from Parkin. The worst foul of the game went unpunished a minute later when Gavin Wilson went clean through on Matthew Morton, who needed lengthy treatment.

The Pikes had the ball in the net for a second time but the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside verdict. But the referee's decision went Pickering's way after 81 minutes when Mickleover's Middleditch, who had missed a great chance five minutes earlier, was sent sprawling in the box by Dean MacAuley but no penalty was given.

Mickleover continued to press for an equaliser as Cunningham hit the bar and Middleditch had an effort cleared off the line by Danny Brunton. At the other end, Peter Vasey and Morton went close for the Pikes.

Though Pickering were not at their best, they clinched three precious points which puts them back in third place.

Steve Brown said: "A draw was maybe a fair result but we never looked like getting beat."

Pickering reserves won 3-1 at Tadcaster Albion reserves and won 3-1 with goals from Liam Salt, Wayne Sygroves, and Steve Baxter.

This Saturday, the Pikes visit Garforth Town in the second round of the League Cup (kick-off, 3pm). The reserves are at home to Beads in the North Riding CFA County Cup (kick-off, 1.30pm).

Updated: 11:45 Wednesday, November 12, 2003