PICKERING Town have started 2019 in buoyant mood after claiming another valuable three points with their 1-0 New Year's Day win over Marske United.

Ryan Blott's well-placed penalty after quarter of an hour was the difference as the Pikes, who shocked Tadcaster Albion on Boxing Day, rose to 14th in the Evo-Stik League east division table.

There were few clear-cut chances in the early exchanges, with Pikes keeper Charlie Andrew called upon to collect comfortably from a few balls into the six-yard box before George Bissett was clumsily brought down for the spot kick.

Visiting stopper Robert Dean dived the right way but could not get a hand to Blott's effort, which nestled in the keeper's bottom right corner.

Marske had a lot of pressure at the end of the first half but were restricted largely to efforts from distance before Joe Danby had a good chance to extend Pickering's lead early in the second period, cracking a shot off the left-hand upright when through on goal.

Andrew May headed against the crossbar for Marske while Billy Logan hit a post for the Pikes, who saw out their 10th clean sheet of the season.

Tadcaster's festive form, meanwhile, is one to put behind them, after they followed up the Pickering reversal with a 1-0 loss at table-toppers Morpeth Town.

The two defeats have seen the Brewers slip from second to fourth in the standings at the turn of the year, although - with neither Brighouse Town nor Pontefract Collieries winning on Tuesday - they are still just one victory from returning to their lofty perch.

Albion opened the year in frustrating fashion, with Joe Lumsden coming close in the opening seven minutes before Casey Stewart had the ball just nicked away from him at the back post by keeper Dan Lowson after good work from Billy Whitehouse.

Jeff Henderson had the hosts in front in the 53rd minute, heading in after keeper James Hodges had denied Liam Henderson's original attempt from a contested free kick.

Taddy saw chances come and go through Lumsden, Stewart, Whitehouse, Pete Davidson and Paddy Miller but failed to prevent consecutive league defeats for the first time in three months.

Up in the premier division, Scarborough Athletic have slipped to fifth following their surprise 2-0 defeat at North Yorkshire coast rivals Whitby Town - the Seadogs' fifth defeat in six league games.

Adam Gell opened the scoring for the 12th-placed Blues, who doubled their lead through a Dale Hopson penalty after he had been brought down in the box.

Boro had the ball in the net through Michael Coulson but the goal was ruled offside, before the former York City man had a penalty saved by Whitby keeper Jack Norton.

Hopson could have made it three, spotting Boro stopper Tommy Taylor off his line, but the striker hit the crossbar with his lob.

Harrogate Town picked up their first point in four National League fixtures with a 1-1 draw at Halifax Town - but were denied victory at the death.

George Thomson's sixth-minute opener looked to have got Harrogate's 2019 off to a winning start but Jonathan Edwards levelled in second-half stoppage time for the Shaymen.

Former table-toppers Gate have now slipped to sixth.