PICKERING TOWN manager Denny Ingram has blasted his side’s winless start to the new season which has left them at the foot of the table heading into tomorrow’s clash with unbeaten outfit Marine AFC (3pm).

Pickering have lost all of their first three matches in the BetVictor Northern Premier League north/west division, suffering defeats to Workington AFC, Ramsbottom United and most recently to Tadcaster Albion and conceding a league-high total of 11 goals.

The fixtures don’t get much easier for the Pikes who travel to a Marine side that have won two and draw one of their first three league games, as they bid to return to the premier division after last term’s relegation.

It’s one of seven away games Pickering will face in their opening 10 league fixtures.

“It’s a tough start to the season,” Ingram admitted. “It was never going to be easy, but we’ve got no excuses for that kind of performance.

“I get that it’s early days but for me, it’s not good enough. We had expectations.

“I’m not going to say we should be winning the league or pushing for the play-offs but right now, we’re not where we should be.”

“I’m massively disappointed with the Tadcaster result. It’s something that can’t and won’t be accepted. We had harsh words at half-time and full time.

“I can’t give anyone credit for that performance. It simply wasn’t good enough.

“We were blown away by their pace and ruthlessness. It’s something we’ve got to learn very, very quickly – when teams are on the front foot, we need to shut up shop and stay in the game.

“As a collective we take responsibility. We can’t be saying ‘I can’t be playing here or he should be playing there’.

“We should be good enough to deal with the task in hand, and if they’re not, they shouldn’t be in the side.

“That’s where it comes to me picking the right people for the job.”

But it’s not all doom and gloom for Pickering, who are through to the FA Cup first qualifying round after a 3-1 comeback win over Bridlington Town. They will visit 1874 Northwich between September 6 and 9.

And the Pikes’ front line is set to be bolstered by the arrival of Flynn McNaughton from Scarborough Athletic.

McNaughton, whose father Michael played for Scarborough and Pickering, started his career in the York City Academy before heading for home-town club Scarborough. Elsewhere in the division, Tadcaster Albion could go top should triumph at Prescot Cables and other results go there way.

Albion are faith after taking six points from their first three matches. Opponents Prescot Cables have one win, draw and defeat to their name thus far this year and have recorded top seven finish in the past couple of seasons.

Like Pickering, Tadcaster booked their spot in the next round FA Cup with a 1-0 win at Frickley Athletic and they’ll host premier division side Ashton United next.

In the Northern Counties East League division one, Selby Town begin their campaign in the FA Vase with a trip to premier division Avro FC.

Selby have gone beyond the first qualifying round since the 2015-16 season, losing all of their last three ties in the competition, conceding 13 goals and scoring just once in that time.