PROUD manager Mark Wood hailed his Pickering Town heroes after their dreams of FA Vase glory were shattered in extra-time.

The Pikes pushed second favourites Merstham all the way in the delayed fourth round tie before eventually exiting 4-2.

The Pikes stunned their hosts with a second minute strike from Steve Baxter.

Michael Morgan equalised for the Surrey side in the fourth minute and a deflected Matt Francis effort put them 2-1 in front after 65 minutes.

Baxter's second goal of the game forced extra-time, but goals from Mark Simmons and Kwabena Agyei earned Merstham a fifth round home tie against Consett on February 9.

Wood applauded his side's mighty effort and felt Pickering deserved to win the tie.

"We were excellent on the day and the better side over the 90 minutes," he said.

"We passed the ball better than they did and created more opportunities, but they over-ran us in extra-time.

"They have only lost one or two games this season and that's the closest they've come to losing in a long time. I was proud of all our players. They did exceptionally well. It was fantastic to see so many people from Pickering make the journey down."

While fourth-placed Pickering were on FA Vase duty, the top two sides in the Northern Counties East League premier division both won.

Leaders Winterton were 2-1 winners at Arnold Town, while second-placed Glapwell beat Eccleshill 3-2.

Selby Town came from behind to draw 1-1 at third-placed Liversedge.

Daryl Leach gave the home side a 57th minute lead, but Bruno Holden hit his 15th goal of the campaign to level. Holden hit a post in the closing minutes and Adam Russell blazed the rebound over the bar.

In division one, Tadcaster Albion were beaten 1-0 at Staveley Miners Welfare, whose goal came from Danny Simpson.

Meanwhile, Scarborough Athletic drew 2-2 with visitors Emley yesterday.

A last-minute goal from Burscough's Ciaran Kilheeny consigned Harrogate Town to a 1-0 home defeat in Blue Square North.

In UniBond League division one north, Harrogate Railway Athletic drew 0-0 at Chorley.