PICKERING TOWN boss Tony Hackworth said his players “set the standard” in their victory over Heanor Town - now he is challenging them to maintain it for the rest of the Northern Counties East League premier division campaign.

Billy Logan’s driven free-kick after six minutes brought a 1-0 win over a side who were challenging for promotion in the early part of the campaign and it made it three maximum-point hauls in a row for the rejuvenated Recreation Ground outfit.

But Hackworth is not merely content with the upturn in form.

Hailing the “best performance since I have been at the club”, he wants more wins as the Pikes start to climb up the table - continuing against Bridlington at Mill Lane tomorrow.

“Things are going really well and I was absolutely delighted (last Saturday),” he said. “They are a big physical side. They are up there because they know how to win games.

“I set the team up to try and be hard to break down.

“We got the early goal through Billy Logan but it wasn’t even a case of hanging on. We were restricting them to long efforts and it paid off.

“Consistency now is a massive thing. It is why we are sat in 11th in the table. It’s been a massive factor in our season and it’s something we need to improve on.

“We have to take every game as it comes and we have got some big matches coming up.

“It has been nice to get three wins but I want to make it four and five.

I will not be getting less than 100 per cent effort from the lads.

“When we were playing under Mitch (Cook), there was a lot of doom and gloom and a lot of unhappy lads. I just want them to express themselves and work hard for each other.”

Hackworth is pleased with his emerging squad - both the players he is getting back into action and the numbers who are scoring goals.

He added: “We have had Wayne Aziz struggling with a back injury and he is playing again. Billy Logan has scored some vital goals for us.

“If you look at the top teams, they have all got strikers who are scoring 20-odd goals. It’s good that other members of the team can contribute.

“We are preparing for a massive game against Bridlington. A lot of their lads know ours and they are going to be massively up for it.

“We have now set the standard against Heanor. We need to take that into the weekend.”

Selby Town, whose interest in the League Cup ended with a 2-0 defeat against Garforth Town at Flaxley Road in midweek, travel to Penistone Church in NCEL division one.

Knaresborough Town are also on the road, at Worsborough Bridge Athletic, in the same division.

Harrogate Town’s winless run continued when they fell by a single goal to Brackley Town in Conference North.

Having now gone eight games without a victory, they entertain Boston United at Wetherby Road.

Near neighbours Harrogate Railway Athletic, whose cup game with Spennymoor Town was postponed on Monday night, will be hoping the weather at Station View eases so their Evo-Stik League first division north clash with Kendal Town can go ahead.

Scarborough Athletic host Warrington Town in the same division needing to improve on their performance in defeat to Ossett Albion if they are to keep hold of a play-off place.