RJF Homes Beckett League,2nd Division.Black Bull Thirsk 1 Pickering Royal Oak 10

IN the only Beckett League game to beat the bad weather last Saturday, Pickering Royal Oak maintained their promotion bid in style, reaching double figures in claiming their seventh consecutive league win.

The game should have been played at Pickering but the Black Bull side were short of transport so they requested a ground switch, as the two sides had yet to play their fixture at Thirsk. This was agreed by the league secreatry last Tuesday. The Black Bull manager swept the lines clear of snow on Saturday morning and got his hands on an orange ball, allowing the game to go ahead.

Royal Oak started the game brightly and should have taken the lead inside 30 seconds when a weak back pass to the Bull keeper was intercepted by Mike Connell, back from suspension, but his tame shot was easily saved.

Royal Oak took the lead in their next attack after Lee Allardice had found some space on the left side of midfield. The ball was laid out to edge of the area for Nick Wilkinson, making a rare appearance, to run on and score a fine opening goal.

Oak's leading goal scorer, Daman Cox, scored his side's second goal with a cross-cum-shot to put the visitors 2-0 up inside five minutes.

Black Bull pulled a goal back after 15 minutes through Graham Barker but Oak restored their two-goal advantage when Alex MacRae set up Lee Allardice, who scored at the second attempt after keeper Lee Watkins saved the first effort.

At 3-1, Royal Oak were awarded a penalty but, with normal spot-kick expert Terry Davison working, Alex MacRae stepped up only to see his shot hit the crossbar.

Just before half-time, Daman Cox hit his 21st goal of the season to give his side a comfortable 4-1 interval lead.

At half-time, the referee was forced to retire through injury. Thankfully, the well-known Pickering businessman, Rob Wilkinson, who normally watches Ryedale Sports Club, offered his services, which both teams agreed to. Both teams thanked him, as otherwise the game would have been abandoned.

Royal Oak stepped up a gear in the second half, scoring six further goals. Referee Wilkinson had a big decision to make early on, when he awarded a second penalty to Royal Oak. This time, MacRae made no mistake, scoring his fifth goal of the season.

Royal Oak then scored three goals in five minutes through Adrian Holtby, second half sub Matty Wilkinson and Damon Cox, who completed his hat-trick. Cox then grabbed his fourth before Nick Wilkinson completed the rout, which he had started, with Oak's tenth.

Rob Barker and Lee Watkins impressed for Bull, while stand-in skipper John Appleyard was Oak's man of the match.

The win for Oak maintained their 100pc record in the league and puts them just three points behind current leaders Ampleforth with three games in hand.

Updated: 10:47 Wednesday, February 05, 2003