NOTHING could be sweeter for Pickering Town boss Tony Hackworth than a three-point haul against Heanor Town tomorrow.

The Recreation Ground chief takes his resurgent side, on the back of a 4-1 win against Retford United last Saturday, to their Northern Counties East League premier division rivals with a point to prove.

Hackworth scored but was later sent off as the Pikes went down 2-1 on the opening day of the campaign and, having now assumed the managerial reins at the club following the departure of Mitch Cook, he is keen to make amends.

“We should have got something out of the game but I got sent off in the second half so I do blame myself for the defeat,” he said.

“I have done my homework on them and playing against them has done me a lot of favours.”

Hackworth was delighted as his side scored some spectacular goals in their Retford win - with two long-range strikes from Robbie Hawkes the highlight - and the Pikes boss joked: “We seem to just score spectacular goals. I would like to see a few more tap-ins. It was another good performance and another three points.

“I’ve just told the lads to go and express themselves - with no fear and with no pressure on them. They are just enjoying their football, which is not something they were doing before.

“Billy Logan is confident and scoring a few goals and Robbie Hawkes has come back to the club. There has been a clean slate for all the players and we have got some big games coming up.”

Hackworth has taken a dug-out role in the last few weeks as he gets up to speed with his managerial duties but, with assistant Paul Burke firmly in place at his side, the Pikes boss said he is not yet ready to hang up his boots.

“When I first took over I was doing it on my own. It would have been quite hard to play and manage,” he added. “Now Paul is here I am more than happy to come and play a few games.

“I have got a couple of seasons left in me yet. The lads are winning games and, the way we are playing at the moment, I’ll just have to see how it goes.”

Hackworth said he had a good squad to choose from against Heanor but he could be without Ryan Cooper, who pulled up in the warm-up against Retford. “Everyone else is fit and raring to go,” he added.

Pickering Under-19s, meanwhile, will play their first league game of the new year on Monday at Selby Town. Kick off is 7.45pm.