A CLINICAL Pickering Town dispatched Garforth Town 5-1 in their Northern Counties East League Premier division match at Mill Lane.

Two goals in five first-half minutes, through the returning Calum Ward and the outstanding James Bennett, set the Pikes on their way to a convincing win.

Mitch Hamilton put the game to bed on the hour mark with an emphatic finish, before Joe Danby swept in a quickfire double.

Garforth’s George Conway, signed on Saturday from Tadcaster Albion, added a late consolation on debut.

The hosts were good value for their win and have now won four of their last five games, although the scoreline was somewhat harsh on neighbours Garforth.

Hamilton, signed from Ossett Albion, signalled early intent with a left-footed effort that took a wicked deflection, only to be hacked off the line by Miners captain Jassim Alali.

Mick Jones tested Toby Wells’ reactions with a downward header from a corner, before the former Easingwold School pupil flew down to his right to fend away Liam Hardey’s strike.

Bennett, magisterial in the middle of the park, played a one-two with Ward but could only find Ben Hunter’s body.

The same combination would lead to Pickering opening the scoring after half an hour.

Bennett hooked the ball into the right channel for Ward, whose cool finish found the near corner for 1-0.

There wouldn’t be long to wait for the second.

Hamilton jinked this way and that to set up Bennett, who planted home a powerful shot from ten yards for his sixth goal of the season.

After the break, the visitors showed fleeting signs of mounting a comeback. Conway linked up well with strike partner Oliver Scott, who curled over, and the former Taddy man forced Wells into a fine save from a tight angle on the left byline.

Joe Danby’s shackles gradually loosened in the second half, as he whipped over a cross that was cut out by Chris Simpkins. The left-back’s clearance fell to Hamilton, whose first-time effort nestled into the bottom corner.

It was all Pickering from there on in. George Bissett, who continues to impress at centre-back, stepped out of defence and very nearly lobbed Hunter with a sensational chip from fully 60 yards.

The introduction of Sam Lingard at left-back allowed Danby to take his place in the front three, a role he performed handsomely.

With 83 minutes gone, Danby’s shot was too hot for Hunter to handle and trickled in for the fourth. Ward, making his first appearance in the league since November, then switched the play for Danby who made it five from inside the box.

Conway deserved to get on the scoresheet and did so when a goal-kick beat everyone but the striker, who swept in past Wells.

Manager Paul Marshall, whose side rose to tenth thanks to the victory, was happy with the display. He said: “It was a good performance, we played some nice flowing football.

“We were comfortable throughout the game really, they had a few players missing and that made it easier for us to deal with them.

“It was good to get Calum (Ward) back playing, he’s been out for a long time. We’ve got five home games in a row, we’ve done well in the first one and we’re looking to take maximum points in every one."