PICKERING TOWN boss Tony Hackworth believes his side will get the benefits of a match-fit Matty Turnbull when the centre-half links up with the club next term.

The Recreation Ground chief put in a seven-day notice of approach for the Selby Town skipper but Turnbull has decided to remain at Flaxley Road until the end of the season.

He has, however, agreed to put pen to paper with Pickering for the new campaign and is set to be the first new arrival as Hackworth looks to build a squad capable of challenging the upper echelons of the Northern Counties East League premier division.

“I think a few sides came in for him,” said the Pikes manager. “He will be loyal to Selby until the end of the season. He has agreed to come to us for next season. I have got a lot of respect for him.

“He had a bad injury and Selby gave him his chance. He’s played every game and done really well.

“He’s got himself match fit and will come to us on the back of a good season.

“It’s a big boost for us.”

On his rebuilding plans for the club, Hackworth added he had already been hard at work.

He said: “I have had the feelers out already on the lads I want for next season. A lot of it will come down to budgets.”

His side continued their run of good form – they have now lost just once in the last seven matches – with a superb 3-2 win at sixth-placed Staveley Miners Welfare.

The home side took the lead after 23 minutes through Ross Goodwin but, just after the half-hour mark, Ryan Cooper levelled and, on 62 minutes, Sam Calvert fired Pickering in front from Joel Ramm’s cross.

With four minutes remaining, Andrew Simpson headed home a Lewis Taylor corner to make the game safe, although Staveley got a goal back deep into stoppage time through Lee Whittington.

It was a three-point haul that thrilled Hackworth, although he revealed tactical changes had played their part after a ropey start.

He explained: “It was a great win. There aren’t too many teams that go there and get a result.

“It was very pleasing and we played well. I set my team up to work extremely hard, and harder than the opposition.

“That should come naturally but we played off them a bit in the first 20 to 25 minutes and showed them a bit too much respect.

“They scored and I thought we might be in for a long afternoon.

“I tweaked the side, put Andrew Simpson out wide and brought Ryan Cooper into the centre. We got a good goal and then controlled the game.”

Pickering don’t have a game this weekend and Hackworth believes the time off from hectic league action will allow his side to hone even better form on the training ground.

“I don’t think it is going to be a hindrance,” he added. “I would like to keep this run going. It gives a few lads time to get over knocks and we go again in two weeks.”

Pickering: Wells, Ramm, Aziz, Tilsley, Danby, Patterson (Hutchinson 88), Taylor (Stewart 87), Simpson, Cooper, Logan, Calvert (Hawkes).