AFTER losing eight out of his first ten games since taking charge at Pickering Town, Steve Brown admitted: "I've made some mistakes. If I had the time again, I would have done things differently."

Brown, who is in his first job as manager of a senior side after being assistant to former Pikes boss Jimmy Reid for over two seasons, said: "I would have brought new faces in earlier, as it is difficult to get them in as the season goes on. I would also have made sure the squad was a lot fitter."

With the sides below Pickering - Selby Town and Arnold Town - with five and four games in hand on them respectively, Brown said his players needed to rise to the challenge in what was a "massive month" ahead.

The Pikes boss said his attempts to add to his squad have not come to fruition but Gavin Dickinson and Mark Wood would return for the home game against Garforth Town this Saturday (3pm). He added that long-term absentee Matthew Morton - out with a back injury - was also close to a comeback.

NCEL Premier Divsion

Buxton 2, Pickering Town 1

What a difference a year makes - on the corresponding Saturday last season, the Pikes gave Accrington Stanley - current Unibond League Premier Division leaders - a run for their money in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup. This time round, they slumped to their seventh consecutive league defeat against an average Buxton side.

The Pikes took a deserved lead after 17 minutes with a superbly-worked goal. The ever-improving Ryan Crawford linked up well with Adam Wash, who supplied a superb throughball for Phil O'Reilly to run on and shoot under the keeper. In the last minute of the half, Ben Rhodes was unlucky not to add to the Pikes' lead from a Wilgrass corner.

Buxton equalised in the 56th minute when a cross by former Hallam player Paul Wood found Carl Holmes, who dummied over the ball to allow former Alfreton striker Caine Cheetham to score from close range.

After Crawford had gone close, Pikes' keeper Kevin Martin made an outstanding save from Cheetham but Buxton got the winner after 74 minutes. Just 30 seconds after Phil O'Reilly was replaced by Jon Beech, a left-wing cross by Richard Mason found former Worksop player Carl Holmes, who scored from close range. Buxton's Caine Cheethan was fortunate to escape with a caution after clearly kicking Chris Kamara. Man of the match for the Pikes was Peter Vasey.

Brown said: "We made the cardinal sin of dropping back in the second half. Our ball retention was poor and we invited pressure."

Pikes team: Martin, Kamara, Connor, Vasey, Chapman, Willgrass, Rhodes (Young, 83 mins), Crawford, O'Reilly (Beech, 74 mins), Wash (Greening, 57 mins), Dale.

The reserves lost 4-2 at home on Saturday to Wakefield and Emley. Scorers for the Pikes were John Elwood and Joe Greening. The under-19s lost 4-0 at Glasshoughton last Wednesday.

The club is urging people from Pickering and the wider community to attend a public meeting at Pickering Memorial Hall on Thursday, October 17, at 7pm, to find out they can benefit from the club's bid to become an FA Charter Standard Community Club.

Updated: 09:48 Wednesday, October 02, 2002