PRIDE is what Pickering Town boss Tony Hackworth felt after his side thumped a nail into the coffin of Tadcaster Albion’s title bid - but the Mill Lane chief may need to reorganise ahead of another tough test tomorrow.

The Pikes produced one of their best displays of the season in the 1-1 draw with the Brewers last weekend and they now travel to fifth-placed Staveley Miners Welfare in the Northern Counties East League premier division looking for a repeat.

Hackworth will be without skipper Wayne Aziz, who serves a one-game ban following a red card against Shaw Lane, and must continue without full-backs Chris Batchelor and Frank Belt. The former is out for the season with a groin injury, while Belt has gone to America to coach.

Striker Joe Danby and Joel Ramm will deputise and the Pickering chief has also put in seven days’ notice of approach for Selby Town skipper Matty Turnbull.

Hackworth believes his patched- up outfit can still get a result at Staveley after hailing their performance in the derby battle with Tadcaster.

He said: “They came to us on a bad run but they have been top of the league all season.

“We knew it was going to be tough. But we could have won by five or six. It was that comfortable. They got back into the game with a scrappy goal and, at the end, they were happy with a point.

“We worked extremely hard. We have had a couple of tough fixtures and I am proud of the lads.”

Having endured tough tests against promotion-chasing outfits in their last two games, Hackworth does not expect Staveley to be any easier.

But he believes his team are more motivated for the bigger occasions.

He explained: “It is the big teams that I prefer to play the most. For whatever reason, we seem to raise our game.

“Staveley will be another tough game. A month back they went on a great run. We go there with confidence that we can put in another performance.”

On his side, Hackworth added: “Chris Batchelor is out for the season and Frank Belt has gone to America.

“Joe Danby has done extremely well at left-back and, although he is a forward, he has played in that position before.

“I prefer to have a left-footed player in there. I put him in against Shaw Lane and Tadcaster and he was man of the match in both games. It might be a new position for him.”

Pickering target Turnbull has told Selby boss Dave Ricardo that he is committed to the club until the end of the season - a boost for the Flaxley Road outfit as they bid to get back to winning ways at Hallam in NCEL division one.

The Robins boss has declared the players “owe me one” following a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Worsborough Bridge Athletic last time out.

They conceded two second-half goals after taking an early lead, and Ricardo said: “It was the worst second-half performance this year.

“We didn’t get out of the blocks but this game brings an opportunity to put things right.

“It is a battle against the pitch (at Hallam) as much as the players.

But the team owe the management a performance after Saturday. They let us down in the second half.”

Chris Jackson, who has missed the last two games, is expected to return to Ricardo’s starting line-up.

Elsewhere, Knaresborough Town host Lincoln Moorlands Railway in NCEL division one, while Harrogate Town are visited by Colwyn Bay in Conference North.

Harrogate Railway entertain Kendal Town and play-off hopefuls Scarborough Athletic host Bamber Bridge in Evo-Stik League division one north.