OMAR Sanyang crowned his permanent move to Pickering Town with a brace as they overcame high-flying Silsden in a chaotic finale to their NCEL premier division clash at Mill Lane.
The Cobbydalers, who welcomed the experienced Martin Foster to their coaching staff from Guiseley earlier in the week, were favourites to take home the three points, but Tony Hackworth’s Pikes rallied to move six points clear of the relegation zone.
But despite the scoreline in their favour, things were not all rosy for the hosts, who saw Sanyang miss a penalty before both he, and Nathan Dyer, were given their marching orders by the referee amid late drama.
Favourites heading into the tie, and having already romped to a 9-1 victory against their opponents, Silsden almost lived up to that billing a mere four minutes into the contest, but prolific striker Kayle Price could not keep his shot on target.
Theo Hudson then fired into Toby Wells’ hands from range before T’nique Fishley flashed a half-volley wide.
Pickering needed Wells again to keep the scoreline level at the interval, the shot-stopper thwarting Price’s neat backheel.
Both Price and Jake Maltby saw efforts fly wide before the visitors broke the deadlock with 70 minutes played.
Though Wells was able to parry Jake Cassidy’s strike, Maltby was first to the rebound, squaring to Casey to rifle the ball into the back of the net.
That lead lasted just nine minutes, Sanyang responding with the pick of the goals, taking the ball on the turn before evading a couple of would-be tacklers and thundering the ball beneath Kyle Trenerry to equalise.
And the tricky forward had his second two minutes later, skipping through the Silsden defence, before rounding a despairing Trenerry to finish into an empty net.
But more drama was to follow after captain Wayne Brooksby was upended in the box in the 90th minute, Sanyang missing the chance of his hat-trick after firing the resultant spot-kick wide.
Dyer was then given his marching orders after receiving a second booking for a dive, Sanyang then following him from the pitch after an off-the-ball skirmish.
Nonetheless, Pickering were able to see out the remainder with little trouble.
They will be hoping to back up that victory when they travel to Rossington Main in the Third Round of the JCP Construction League Cup this evening (7:45pm).
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