FA Vase: Wimborne Town 1, Pickering Town 2

"HOW often do you win the pools? You just can't predict football," sighed Wimborne assistant manager John Macey after watching his side stumble out of the FA Vase, much to the delight of the Pickering Town fans who had travelled to Dorset.

Mind you, even Mystic Meg would have struggled to predict the startling turnaround witnessed at Cuthbury on Saturday, when the Pikes stunned the hosts with a power-packed second half display.

After James Drinkall's inspired overhead kick dragged them level, Liam Salt slid home the winner to kill Wimborne's dreams.

But the 310-mile journey looked to have taken its toll as Paul Arnold's side looked every inch the Vase pretenders they hoped to be in a dominant first-half display.

But after former Welsh international Lee Nogan had limped off for Pickering, the hosts seized the initiative and proceeded to waltz through the period that should have won them the tie.

Mark Smith twice came agonisingly close to putting them in front, firstly chipping inches wide after drawing Pikes goalkeeper Carl Silburn, and then watched his dipping 20-yard volley crash back off the bar.

But Magpies hit the front 28 minutes in. A Paul Rideout free-kick caused a scramble and Silburn could only beat out Marcus Oldbury's snap-shot to Percival. The centre back mishit his shot into the ground but it was well-placed enough to nestle in the corner.

Drinkall, who had shown glimpses of his talent before the break, produced an acrobatic overhead from one of countless long throws to level affairs just three minutes after the break.

It prompted the best spell of the game from Alex Mathie's side, with Stewart Kearn excelling in the Wimborne goal, although Salt and Matt Morton should have given him no chances with point-blank efforts.

Salt atoned, however, when he reacted quickest to a mishit shot from Mark Swales to slip the ball beyond Kearn and complete the turnaround.

The goal acted as the alarm clock that finally woke Magpies from their second-half slumber.

With the introduction of winger Stuart Cooper, Pickering were pinned back and Silburn came to the fore with a series of stunning stops in a seemingly endless injury time period.

With Wimborne keeper Kearn up for a corner, his opposite number denied Paul Roast who looked sure to score after an almighty ruck at the back post.

The 23-year-old Pikes stopper then twice denied Cannie, first with his legs after the Magpies striker had broken clear, then with a brilliant tip-over from a header as the hosts last hopes faded away.

Pikes team: Silburn, MacAuley, Brunton, Eeles, McNaughton, Morton, Greening, Drinkall, M Swales (Roberts 84), Nogan (Salt 18) and S Swales. Towse, Pallender and Ramm not used.

Man of the Match was James Drinkall, closely followed by Carl Silburn.

Pikes supporters get their just rewards

It's too far for me to travel on a coach 320 miles each way and an overnight stop to watch Pickering Town, I said. How wrong I was.

Setting off from the Recreation Club at 7 o'clock, we arrived at Wimborne at 1.30pm to be met by one of their fans in a black and white shirt, painted face and a green wig.

Kick-off at last and Pickering were soon on top and had a couple of very good chances which we failed to take.

After 20 minutes, we lost Lee Nogan with an injury and he was replaced with Liam Salt. This changed the course of the game and Wimborne were now well on top. The pressure paid off with a well-taken goal.

Half time saw it Pickering 0, Wimborne 1. The man with the painted face was very happy.

After some smart tactical changes, we looked a different side and after three minutes, stunned their players and supporters with a spectacular goal from an overhead kick from James Drinkall.

We took complete control of the game and it was no surprise when Liam Salt got the winning goal.

In the last five minutes, Wimborne threw everything at us and were only denied an equaliser by two brilliant saves by Carl Silburn.

The final whistle brought joy and delight for the 50 or so Pickering contingent and a safe passage into the quarter finals.

Updated: 16:12 Wednesday, February 15, 2006