PICKERING Town continued their unbeaten start to pre-season after playing out a goalless draw with Scarborough Athletic Reserves yesterday evening.

Over 400 spectators packed into Mill Lane to witness the encounter, with Rudy Funk’s charges unlucky not to have tasted victory.

The Pikes hit both the woodwork and side netting against their youthful opponents in what was an encouraging performance ahead of the upcoming Toolstation Northern Counties East premier division season.

Funk was able to utilise a large number of trialists during the second half, though lost centre-back Jamie Poole to a nasty head injury moments before the interval.

Pickering arrived for their first home pre-season friendly having earned a 3-2 victory over Fishburn Park, who kicked off their 75th anniversary celebrations on Saturday.

There was no evidence of any tiredness from that encounter, with the Pikes coming close to taking an early lead in the seventh minute, but for a last-ditch clearance from Scarborough’s Ross Pilu.

Nathan Heaton rose highest to deny another chance for the hosts from a free-kick 25 yards out, with the Seadogs then growing into the encounter, Jake Reeves seeing a long-range effort fly narrowly over the crossbar.

Both Poole and Max McGuckin were kept busy in defence by their opponents, combining well to head clear a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the box after neat interchange play between George Walmsley and Billy Leach.

But the Pikes gifted Scarborough a fantastic opportunity to open the scoring just after the half-hour mark when goalkeeper Charlie Preston misjudged the bounce of the ball, though that error went unduly punished by the visitors.

Poole then saw himself become the game’s first injury casualty on the stroke of half-time after being left with a nasty cut to his forehead following a headed clearance.

Pickering introduced a pacy striker shortly after the interval, who proved a thorn in the visitors’ side throughout the second half.

He forced Scarborough shot-stopper Ben Chamberlain into a diving save before the visitors came close to firing themselves onto the scoreboard, but Leach was unable to find a teammate with his right-wing cross.

A number of substitutions from both sides threatened to interrupt what had been a fast and end-to-end encounter, though Pickering’s pursuit of a winning goal did not waver.

Chamberlain made an outstanding save to deny a trialist winger after his surging run through the Scarborough defence, with Taylor Hide then providing a goal-saving tackle just inside the box.

The Pikes thought they had claimed the spoils after attempting to lob Chamberlain from 35 yards, but the goalkeeper was thankful to see the effort come off the left hand post and out for a corner in an effort that typified both sides’ evenings in front of goal.

A goal proved to be elusive for either side, but nonetheless the match proved to be an open affair in front of a much-improved crowd in a clear evidence of Funk’s plans to progress his club within the community.

Pickering continue their pre-season in a trip to Poole this weekend, in what Funk hopes will also serve as a bonding weekend ahead of the new season, which kicks off with a short trip to Knaresborough Town on July 29 (3pm).