MANAGER Paul Marshall has hailed Ryan Blott's start to the season – the striker's ability to find the net having effectively bagged Pickering Town all nine points from their last three games.

Blott, whose hat-trick brought victory at Clipstone a fortnight ago, got the only goal of the game at Garforth Town last Saturday as the Pikes made it three wins and one draw from their opening four matches, all on the road.

He was also on target in the 3-2 midweek win over FA Cup "giantkillers" Penistone Church, which began a run of four home matches for Marshall's men.

Added to his his FA Cup strike against Clitheroe, it made it six goals in four outings for the frontman.

Said Marshall: "He's had a full pre-season and he's started the season flying.

"Everyone knows about his quality. We need the goals to come and he's chipped in with five or six already and I'm really pleased for him."

Marshall also had a warning for the league that his team were only likely to get better.

"Four away games and 10 points (before the midweek home win) - and we haven't played that well yet," he said.

"We ground out positive results and we've been nowhere near where we can be.

"We're a good team and once we start hitting form we will be even better."

Promoted Penistone arrived at Mill Lane on Tuesday in buoyant mood after their shock FA Cup win over Evo-Stik League premier division side Whitby Town – a come-from-behind 3-2 victory despite having a man sent off after only 15 minutes.

But Ged Dalton gave the Pikes the lead on the stroke of half-time and Blott doubled it after the resumption.

Jordan Coduri pulled one back but Joseph McCormick made it 3-1 late on before Coduri got a second in the last minute.

The Pikes, now sixth in the table with games in hand, host 10th-placed Staveley Miners Welfare tomorrow (3pm), before entertaining Handsworth Parramore, who have also started well, next Tuesday (7.45pm).

"We have four home games on the bounce and we're obviously looking to keep this good start going," said Marshall.

"We're going into these games unbeaten in the league at home in 2017 and we want to carry that form on."

On tomorrow's opponents, Marshall said: "I know their manager, Brett Marshall, well. He won the league with Retford a few years ago and he's building a good young squad at Staveley now."

Elsewhere this weekend, Tadcaster Albion host Radcliffe Borough in Evo-Stik League division one north.

The Brewers will be aiming to build on last Saturday's impressive 3-0 victory over Goole Town at the i2i Stadium.

In the same division, Scarborough Athletic travel to West Yorkshire to face Brighouse Town. The Seadogs sit 11th in the table but have games in hand on all the sides above them.

National League North promotion-chasers Harrogate Town are at AFC Telford United, while Harrogate Railway Athletic are in cup action when they head to the similarly-named Darlington Railway Athletic for an FA Vase First Round Qualifying clash.

Selby Town are also in Vase action, hosting Charnock Richard, while Knaresborough Town entertain Ollerton Town in Northern Counties East League division one.