Both Pickering Town's matches - last Saturday, at home to Brigg Town, and last night, at home to Harrogate Railway - fell victim to the wintry weather. But they didn't lose much ground in the fight to stay in the NCEL Premier Division.

Although bottom club Borrowash Victoria beat Garforth Town 2-0, Garforth themselves are only five places and five points above the Pikes, having played a game more. No other side in the bottom eight won and, with games in hand on most of the teams around them, Pickering have an excellent chance of survival, especially when you consider their league position before Christmas.

Pikes have more games to play at home but, ironically, it has been their away form which has caught the eye recently, with two consecutive league wins at Garforth and Sheffield.

The Pikes have a re-arranged home game at home to Glapwell this Saturdau (3pm). This game replaces the away game with Bridlington Town who are on FA Vase duty.

The Pikes will be without first choice full-backs Ben Rhodes and Joe Connor, who have both received seven-day bans for picking up five cautions this season.

The reserves were without a game last Saturday and have had this week's game cancelled because the first team are at home.

Updated: 10:49 Wednesday, February 05, 2003