NCEL Premier Division Pickering Town 0, Garforth Town 1

THE Pikes suffered their ninth successive league and cup defeat last Saturday to a team they did the double over last season, thanks to an injury-time winner from Aguib Traore.

Pickering had a good chance to take the lead after 15 minutes when Joe Connor supplied a great 35-yard pass to Ryan Crawford but the visitors' keeper, Danny Taylor, came out and saved at the second attempt.

Garforth also had chances in the first half. Micky Amos went close twice and Aguib Traore, signed in the summer from under the noses of Doncaster Rovers, also went close. Taylor had his first shot to save after 37 minutes when Joe Connor, the pick of the Pikes players in the first half, supplied a right-wing corner to Chris Kamara, whose 30-yard shot tested Taylor. Two minutes before half-time, Ryan Crawford put Mark Wood through on goal but he shot wide when challenged by Richard Hand. A minute later, Pikes' keeper Kevin Martin saved superbly to thwart Jimmy Taylor.

In the second half, Mark Wood headed wide following a Joe Connor cross after 48 minutes. Martin made another brilliant save to prevent Traore five minutes later.

Gavin Dickinson, with a shot-cum-cross from 35 yards almost caught Taylor off his line after 72 minutes. Three minutes later, Jon Beech ran on to a long clearance by Martin, but Hand made a timely intervention.

The last five minutes saw the Pikes go close to ending their depressing run. Chris Kamara had a shot from distance well saved. A minute later, Kamara crossed for Phil O'Reilly, whose effort was blocked on the line.

Michael Morton almost won it for Garforth but his shot was tipped round the post. But just as it looked as if the Pikes would at last halt their run of defeats, up stepped Traore in the third minute of stoppage time to unleash an unstoppable 25-yard shot into the Pikes' goal in front of the Gazette & Herald stand - a goal which deserved to win any match. Pickering remain third from bottom, with the two sides below them both losing.

Pikes team: Martin, Kamara, Connor, Vasey, Chapman, Rhodes, Dickinson (Anderson, 75 mins), Crawford (Beech, 63 mins), Wood, O'Reilly, Dale (Farthing, 55 mins).

The reserves lost 3-0 at Liversedge to cap a bad day for the senior sides. The under-19s drew 1-1 at home to Garforth, with Steve Baxter the scorer.

The Pikes have re-arranged two games. They are at home to Bedale next Tuesday (kick-off 7.45pm) in the second preliminary round of the North Riding FA CFA Senior Cup. On Saturday, October 19, the Pikes' game against Liversedge has been cancelled due to Liversedge's involvement in the FA Vase. Instead, Pickering will visit local rivals Selby Town, who are currently bottom.

This Saturday, the Pikes visit unbeaten Ossett Albion who were relegated from the Unibond League last season. Last Saturday, Osset beat previously undefeated Goole away from home 4-0. The reserves are at home to Ossett Albion reserves (kick-off 3pm.)

Updated: 09:45 Wednesday, October 09, 2002