PICKERING Town beat lowly Liversedge 2-1 at the Recreation Ground but were made to work hard for their three points, writes Tom Harle.

This was a gritty game in the Northern Counties East League premier division, strewn with fouls and blessed with only a limited number of clear-cut chances.

Liversedge had the better of the first half-hour. Regan Fish, who spent time with the Pikes last year, should have struck against his former club after he took possession from the hosts' stand-in captain Joe Danby. Through on goal, the winger lifted the ball over Peter Lawrie, but it trickled narrowly wide.

The hosts began to impose themselves, as Nathan Kamara came close with a drive and the outstanding Matty Turnbull nodded wide from a corner.

The turning point came seconds before the break, when Fish brought down Ged Dalton just inside the box and conceded a clear penalty.

James Bennett coolly stroked home the spot kick for his fourth goal of the season.

This took the sting out of Liversedge’s challenge, as the lessening prominence of Tino Chitsharo encapsulated their fading fortunes.

Danby was allowed to push forward on the left flank when Paul Marshall switched his side to a wing-back system. He fired an effort across the face of goal, and came even closer when he hit the body of Dominic Smith from close range.

The skipper got his goal with ten minutes to go. New signing Terry Taylor slid a pass through for substitute Callum Richardson, who teed Danby up for a fine left-footed finish that sealed the spoils.

The visitors grabbed a consolation goal when centre-half Joe Walton rounded the keeper and applied a finish in injury time, but it came too late to signify a comeback.

Despite his team’s fourth victory in seven games, Marshall was disappointed to concede at the death.

“We made hard work of it," he said of the win.

“It was a stupid, sloppy goal to give away. Instead of seeing the game out and managing it properly, a lack of communication cost us a goal.”

The former Tadcaster Albion chief continued: “It was just a poor game overall. Probably one of the worst I’ve managed in at this level.

“I’ve often said that against better teams you raise your game, but when you play against average teams you all find a level.

“We’ve got the win, so can’t be too disappointed. The winning mentality is starting to happen.”