PICKERING TOWN boss Rudy Funk did not hold back in his post-match assessment in a scathing review of his side’s performance against Newton Aycliffe on Saturday, deeming it “not acceptable”.

The Pikes travelled to the Ebac Northern League division one table-toppers to on Saturday, but were the architects of their own downfall as they fell to a heavy 5-2 defeat.

Funk made a number of changes to his squad, however he admitted that although his side were not at full strength, that was no excuse for their below-par performance.

“People have been out, some of our players, but that’s not how you work in football,” he told the club’s media team.

“In football you play with what you’ve got and you prepare with what you’ve got.

“Our preparation was spot on, but at the end of the day we let ourselves down in so many areas when we find the ball, we’ve done things which, I’ve got to be honest, I wasn’t very pleased about.

“We gave the ball away too cheaply and at the end of the day you pay the price.

“To come to the top of the league, which with their form that they’re in, everybody should have been a little bit alert and more at it, but there’s plenty of things which I have to think about now.

“To me, that’s not acceptable.”

Pickering were behind after just 12 minutes at the SecuriCorp Stadium, Liam Jarvie playing a superb through ball in behind to Liam Adamson, who made no mistake to slot the ball home under Quinaceo Hunt.

Adamson then turned provider for striker Eddie Thomas to double Newton’s lead seven minutes before the interval, with his fierce effort finding the back of the net after smashing in off the crossbar.

The Pikes wrestled themselves back into the tie in the 42nd minute after breaking the hosts’ offside trap, Appiah bursting forward to collect Bruno Pilatos’ before confidently chipping Decklan Greenwood to halve the deficit.

But two goals in nine minutes shortly after the interval killed off any hopes of a further fightback from Funk’s charges.

Midfielder Ethan Wood found the back of the net from 25 yards out with the pick of the goals in the 47th minute, before Adamson scrambled in his second of the match after Hunt had initially made a smart save.

Damian Gilliga, Liam Love and Matty Dawes were introduced for Pickering, who were handed the chance to make the scoreline more respectable from the penalty spot, with McKenzie Diciccio making no mistake from the spot-kick.

The Pikes were left feeling aggrieved soon after when Dawes was brought down in the box after weaving past three defenders, but it was Newton who would have the last word when substitute Jack Naylor capitalised on a Hunt fumble to easily slot in their fifth goal with two minutes remaining.