Ten-man Pickering Town were beaten 3-0 by Ebac Northern League division one promotion-hopefuls Whitley Bay at Mill Lane on Saturday.

Matches there had proved fruitful for Rudy Funk’s side this year, with the Pikes having won all three of their previous matches in 2023, including against title challengers Bishop Auckland and Ashington.

But the visit of third-placed Whitley Bay proved one step too far for strugglers Pickering, who are only four points above the dreaded relegation zone in 17th place.

Funk made one change from the Pikes’ 2-1 victory against Ashington last weekend, with new signing Sam Conway, who joined the club from fellow division one side Redcar Athletic last week coming into the starting line-up in place of Brad Mills.

In turn, that saw ex-England international Bruno Pilatos, who started in midfield last weekend, to slot into the defence alongside Max McGuckin, James Ward, Paul Roddam and Jamie Poole.

Pickering were handed a cruel blow after barely 60 seconds when captain Wayne Brooksby had to be carried from the field with a nasty-looking injury to be replaced by Liam Love.

And it was the visitors who had the first chance of the game with 11 minutes gone when Harvey Neary met Bailey Geliher’s cross, but his effort was a comfortable one for Pikes’ goalkeeper Quinaceo Hunt.

Pickering’s first chance came the way of debutant Conway soon after, with Love firing his header just over the bar from the resulting corner.

Bay soon began to show their class however, taking the lead on the half hour mark after a flowing team move.

Luke Porritt found Ben Richardson down the left flank, who crossed the ball towards Michael Hall.

His header crashed off the inside of the post and past Hunt, and was some way for the visiting skipper to score his first goal in Whitley Bay colours.

Despite Funk’s side coming close to an immediate response, it was the visitors who extended their advantage to take a two-goal lead in at the break.

Richardson again turned provider for the Pikes, floating a corner in from the left, with Scott Lowery taking advantage of some less than desirable defending from the hosts to head home at the far post.

Less than a minute later the half-time whistle sounded in front of the 202 fans at Mill Lane, Pickering’s largest home crowd of the season.

The Pikes were not to be pushovers however, and came out fighting in the second half.

Elliott Day became the first player into referee Michael Studholme’s book in the 48th minute after pulling back McGuckin.

And the Pikes were left reeling four minutes later after an apparent clear handball in the box, with Studholme instead ruling a free-kick to the visitors after he deemed that Keelan Grist had committed a foul.

Frustration grew among the Pickering contingent in the aftermath, and they found themselves down to 10 men after 55 minutes, Jamie Thornton being shown a straight red card for apparent foul language towards the officials despite it appearing to have been aimed at an opposition player instead.

Porritt was next into the book for the visitors on the hour mark as tensions continued to rise.

The Pikes introduced Tom Godden into the fray five minutes later but ascendancy was very much with the visitors, Lowery looking to capitalise on their man advantage after bursting clear down the right, but he failed to test Hunt.

And Bay put the result beyond doubt with 13 minutes remaining with the pick of the goals from Day.

The wing-back, who had been enjoying an impressive afternoon going forwards, turned his man close to the byline before curling a sublime strike across goal and into the roof of the net.

Whitley goalkeeper Pat Nash was called into action late on to deny Pickering, but he was able to push away the shot with ease.

Substitute Noah Millington thought that he had added a fourth for the visitors in stoppage time, but his attempt was deflected over the bar for a corner.

Pickering will be hoping to bounce back from the defeat on Saturday when they travel to leaders Newton Aycliffe (3pm kick-off).