PICKERING Town missed the chance to pull further away from the Evo-Stik League trapdoor last night as they went down 3-2 at second-placed Pontefract Collieries.

The Pikes would have remained 15th in the east division whatever the result but will rue having twice taken and lost the lead in a game that could have taken them three points closer to guaranteed safety.

Ryan Blott opened the scoring 11 minutes in but Vaughan Redford netted from the spot just before the break.

Danny Earl restored the Pikes' lead 12 minutes into the second period before Nick Guest - in the Colls side in place of the injured 25-goal striker Eli Hey - netted a second-half brace.

Selby Town slipped to ninth in Northern Counties East League division one with a 1-0 defeat at Rossington Main.

Jonathan Fusco scored the only goal of the game after 20 minutes.