A GOAL in each half was enough for Pickering Town to defeat Armthorpe Welfare 2-0 in their Northern Counties East League Premier division clash at the Recreation Ground.

Strikes from Ryan Cooper and substitute Ged Dalton, the latter returning from a spell on the sidelines, saw the Pikes to their first win in four league games.

That the home side would arrest this slide was never really in doubt.

In the 14th minute right-back George Bissett, a regular attacking outlet, went on a mazy forward run and slid a perfectly weighted pass through to Cooper. Having set himself just inside the box, the midfielder promptly sent a precise right footed finish into the far corner past Liam Copley in the visiting goal.

Armthorpe’s best chance to get on the scoresheet came when Joe Lumsden cut the ball back to target man Darren Mansaram.

He unselfishly teed up captain Craig Aspinall, who saw his powerful close-range effort sharply saved by Pikes stopper Peter Lawrie.

Pickering, who suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of league leaders Tadcaster Albion in their last outing, spurned two excellent chances to increase their lead.

Just before the break York City trainee Niall Tilsley headed just wide and, from the subsequent corner, home debutant Danny Gray, signed from the Brewers last week, volleyed over.

The game drifted away from the hosts after the interval and Armthorpe almost drew level when Lumsden’s low effort dribbled narrowly wide. The introduction of Dalton on the hour mark proved decisive, though, when he poked home a rebound with twenty minutes to play from his team’s 12th corner.

Town could have added to their tally but striker Nathan Kamara’s header rattled the crossbar in the dying moments. The well-deserved victory saw Paul Marshall’s side climb two places to 13th with games in hand on the teams above.

Selby Town were beaten 3-1 at leaders AFC Mansfield in NCEL division one.

Craig Mitchell give the home side the lead on 22 minutes and their advantage was further extended seven minutes after the restart through Dean Rick.

Tom Chamberlain's goal, on 58 minutes, gave the Robins hope but that faded for manager Dave Ricardo's men when Mitchell notched his second goal a quarter of an hour before the finish.

Knaresborough Town were five star in a home win over Eccleshill United. Blaine Hobson, a hat-trick from George Eustace and a Graham Whitehead goal gave them a 5-3 victory.

Harrogate Town are through to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup after a dominant 3-0 win over Burscough.

Louie Swain, Dominic Knowles and Brendon Daniels put the Wetherby Roaders just one round away from the first round proper.

Harrogate Railway were on the end of a heavy 6-3 defeat at Warrington Town in Evo-Stik League first division north.

Tom Owen scored twice in the last ten minutes and Charlie Clamp got a 90th minute goal but the Station View side were already 5-0 down when they grabbed their consolation goals.

Scarborough Athletic were also defeated - 2-0 at home to Mossley