PICKERING Town continued their push up the Northern Counties East League premier division with a 2-1 victory over Selby Town.

The Pikes, who had already inflicted a 2-0 reverse on their rivals in the FA Vase earlier in the season, ensured they tasted victory again with a controlled display.

Dean MacAuley gave Pickering the lead at the break, only for Peter Collier to continue his scoring run for the Robins with the equaliser three minutes after half-time.

But as the match was coming to a close, Adam Wash pounced from close range to seal the win.

Goole's premier division match with Borrowash Victoria was postponed.

Tadcaster Albion's roller-coaster ride in division one continued as they turned over highly-rated Mickleover Sports 2-1.

Kevin Duckworth struck either side of the interval to give Albion a 2-0 lead before Tom Betteridge pulled one back.

To cap a bad day for promotion-chasing Sports, defender Tom Priestley was taken to hospital with a knee injury.

Harrogate Town's failure to build on their lightning quick starts struck again as UniBond League division one rivals Matlock snatched a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

For the first half, Town were irrepressible with skipper Robbie Whellans giving them a deserved lead when Scott Bonsall and Ian Blackstone combined to release the in-form striker.

But, as in previous weeks, Town failed to build from here and allowed their opponents back into the match. Matt Varley pouncing on a poor Iain Dunn clearance to drive to ball home three minutes after half-time.

In the dying moments, Town almost snatched three points but Matt Albery's strike was well blocked.

Boss John Reed said: "I'm disappointed with the result because I feel we had a lot of chances and a lot of the play, so I see it as two points lost.

"Our finishing let us down, we just don't seem to be able to get that second goal. We are getting the first in the opening 20 minutes or so, but instead of using this as a platform we are failing to kill matches off.

"If we had gone in at half-time three or four goals up, I don't think anyone would have complained because we created that many chances.

"Although Matlock came out the blocks a lot quick after half-time and scored, we still could have won the tie as we created the openings."

Nestl Rowntree saw their hopes of retaining the West Yorkshire League Cup shot down by Nostell Miners Welfare 3-2.

After falling behind to Richard Hirst's early strike, Nestl built up a 2-1 lead through goals from Andy Cox and Brent Terry, and it could have been 3-1 but Steve Ward sent his spot-kick wide of the post.

Nostell punished Ward's miss when Alan Colquhon levelled matters with a penalty and with ten minutes left disaster struck for the cup holder as Ben Gilbert knocked home a loose ball from a corner.

"We've very disappointed, but more in the performance than the result," said assistant-boss Jon Reynolds. "We had a good side out but we just didn't perform.

"We had been playing well for a while now, but this was a below-par display, especially with the team we had out. Nostell deserved to win it in the end."

Updated: 12:42 Monday, October 29, 2001