AHEAD of their big pre-season game at home to Middlesbrough next week, Pickering Town won 2-0 at York League side Pocklington on Tuesday night.

The goals came ten minutes into each half, Gavin Dickinson and Ricky Greening finding the net for the Pikes.

Manager Steve Brown said: "It was a good workout. We were sharper than last week but we still have a lot of work to do."

Brown said he would be putting his strongest 14 out for the game against Middlesbrough at Mill Lane next Tuesday (7pm). The Premiership outfit are expected to include several under-19 internationals in their line-up.

The occasion will also be an opportunity for the club to make further steps towards becoming an FA Community Club. The official final draft of the development plan, on which the bid for community club status is based, will be handed over to North Riding County FA officials.

And Steve Brown will meet with Middlesbrough's academy director, Dave Parnaby, to discuss setting up a formal link between the Middlesbrough academy and Pickering. Brown said the club were also in the early stages of setting up links with York City, Scarborough and York University.

* The committee has backed plans to hold a public meeting in September to encourage support for the community bid.

* One of the Pikes' toughest challengers in the league next season, Brigg Town, have lost their chairman Dave Crowder, who resigned last week. Manager Raz Clayton had resigned prior to his depature but was reinstated four days later.

* Midfielder Danny Farthing, who has left the Pikes to play for UniBond Premier side Harrogate Town, suffered severe ligament damage after just five seconds of his substitute appearance in Town's friendly against Manchester United on Saturday.

Updated: 09:20 Wednesday, July 24, 2002