Pickering Town to profit from extra push (From York Press)

Pickering Town to profit from extra push

11:00am Friday 10th February 2012 in Football

COMPETITION for places is heating up just in time to continue Pickering Town’s surge from danger.

While the temperature has plummeted across the country, the power-play underwritten by the canny stewardship of manager Jimmy Reid has seen the Pikes on the up.

With reasonable chances of tomorrow’s Northern Counties East League premier division game at Liversedge defying the ice age, recruitment of new players and recovery of several crocked aces have given Reid fresh optimism.

“We are now looking at five or six contenders for the bench as several lads come back from injury and suspension to add to players like Darren Clough and Ged Dalton, who have just returned to the club,” said the Pikes chief.

“When you’ve got competition for places then that makes everyone look over their shoulder at who might be coming in, and that’s great for the morale of the squad.”

Reid is missing gutsy centre-back Michael McNaughton for the next two weeks through work commitments, but in a re-shuffle he will likely move Dave Hartas from midfield into a central core alongside player-coach Simon Sturdy.

After the unbeaten run which propelled Pickering away from relegation danger, Reid then plotted the next batch of clubs upon which to make ground and 12th-placed Liversedge – three slots clear of the Pikes – are among that pack.

Added the Pickering manager: “We’ve pulled away from the bottom and now the hard work is to get even closer to those clubs just above us.

“However, Liversedge is a tricky place from which to get points. They have a pitch which slopes a lot to one side and they’re well adapted to playing well on it, so the game – if played – won’t be easy.”

Scarborough Athletic’s bid to reinforce their promotion push will be tested when they host Brighouse tomorrow.