FIRST-PLACED Bridlington Town visit Pickering tomorrow when the hosts look at a steady finish to a roller-coaster campaign, writes Samuel Burton.

Manager Jimmy Reid’s fine transformation of the Pikes’ fortunes hit a minor blip last weekend with a 3-2 defeat at Thackley.

Reid reckoned the reverse was not deserved, adding: “We certainly didn’t deserve to lose. We were very unlucky but it shows that we are getting there against the bigger teams.”

Bridlington Town are without doubt one of the bigger NCEL premier division teams and Pickering will need to ensure they are on their mettle against the leaders, who are protecting a run of three successive conquests.

Conscious of the threat Reid said: “It’s going to be difficult this weekend but we are looking forward to it.

“We’ll keep plugging away and attempt to catch the team in front of us every week.”

As an extra incentive to the duel Pickering, who are free of any injury worries, will look to get one over former manager Mitch Cook who left the Pikes after the final game of last season.

Former Middlesbrough, Scarborough and Darlington midfielder Cook, who previously managed both the Pikes and their under-19s ranks, will be aware how Reid has transformed the premier division outfit into a more resilient unit.

Pickering’s U19s too are excelling.

They have reached the final of the league cup with a 1-0 victory over Frickley Athletic.