PICKERING Town surrendered a two-goal lead as they were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against fellow strugglers Eccleshill United at Mill Lane.

Early goals from Omar Sanyang and Nathan Dyer had the Pikes in complete control by the half-hour, but Talent Ndlovu paved the way for Jordan Kong to equalise and ensure that the spoils were shared.

That was despite a nervy ending that saw defender Connor Avison given his marching orders for a second yellow card and Eccleshill miss an easy chance before Matty Dawes was controversially denied a winner for the hosts deep into added time.

The result extends the Pikes’ unbeaten run to six games, but Eccleshill still remain in real trouble just one point off the foot of the NCEL premier division table.

Buoyed by their thrilling 5-4 triumph over Barton Town in midweek, Tony Hackworth’s side started like a train, with Dyer playing in Sanyang to finish into the bottom right corner with just six minutes played.

Pickering had doubled their advantage by the 25-minute mark, Sanyang returning the favour as Dyer crashed a long-range strike into the back of the net.

Captain Wayne Brooksby almost made it three for the hosts five minutes before the break, but they instead saw themselves pegged back on the stroke of half time when Ndlovu gave Eccleshill a glimmer of hope after turning a quick throw-in home.

And the Pikes were made to rue their missed chances when Kong lobbed goalkeeper Harrison McGuire 10 minutes after the break, seeing their lead extinguished.

The hosts then saw Avison dismissed, but Eccleshill could not capitalise on their man advantage, somehow unable to convert a golden chance from six yards with just two minutes left to play.

Instead it was Dawes who saw a winner contentiously chalked off in the fifth minute of added time as he bundled home on the goalline.

Pickering will hope to return to winning ways when they visit Sheffield-based Hallam on Saturday (3pm).