There was a determined and forceful look to Shelley’s starting eleven and they only took 2 minutes to turn that into goals. A trademark long throw from Danny Cardwell found Brian Cusworth who nodded down for midfielder Janni Lipka to hit a sweet volley home from 12 yards out.

Against the run of play however, the Pikes equalised through a Tom Adams spot kick after a tangle of legs between Nicky Darker and Tom Fenwick in the Parkgate box.

An undeterred Parkgate looked to get their noses back in front and threatened the Pickering danger zone with quality deliveries into the box from Cardwell and Matt Outram which lasted throughout the game.

However, it was an impressive piece of solo skill that put the game back into Parkgate’s control. Striker Brian Cusworth received the ball on the edge of the Pickering area with his back to goal and in one swift movement swivelled and struck a fine shot into the bottom corner of Adam Mitchell’s goal for the first strike of his second spell at the club.

Moments later Cusworth nearly made it three as a strong run and cross from Ashley Worsfold narrowly eluded the centre-forwards outstretched foot.

On 41 minutes Janni Lipka did make it three for the Steelmen as he headed home a whipped in free kick from Outram for his second of the game.

Parkgate weren’t content with only 3 goals in the first period as Luke Fletcher came the second player of the game to register his first goal of a second spell at the club. A Cardwell throw was met by Matt Needham whose header reached Fletcher to volley home, much like the first goal of the game.

It took Parkgate only four minutes to open the scoring in the second half with a fantastically worked goal. An exquisite volleyed through ball from Danny Barlow allowed Ashley Worsfold to break down the inside left channel and coolly lay off for the Cusworth to calmy slot home from 18 yards.

As the Steelmen were in total control of the contest they continued in pursuit of more goals as Worsfold was denied a good opportunity by a fine last ditch tackle from Tom Reid and substitute Will Senior headed over.

It took a quick free kick in the 79th minute for Pickering to carve open the otherwise solid Parkgate defence but Jamie Bailey smothers the onrushing Ged Dalton to save excellently.

Chris Wood replaced Cusworth and almost immediately got his name on the scoresheet after prodding home a spilled catch from Mitchell only for the linesman to flag for offside.
In injury time the Steelmen made it six as mazy run from Worsfold into the Pickering box was halted by a foul and the subsequent penalty was well finished by the orchestrator for a deserved goal to wrap up a great display from Parkgate.

The Steelmen will look for a repeat performance on Saturday (3rd) as they a travel to Bridlington Town for a huge game against the league leaders.

TEAMS

PARKGATE

Jamie Bailey, Matt Griffin ©, Matt Needham, Danny Barlow, Janni Lipka (Will Senior), Luke Fletcher, Nicky Darker, Danny Cardwell (Danny Major ’85), Ashley Worsfold, Brian Cusworth (Chris Wood ’71), Matt Outram

SUBS NOT USED Robert Ludlam

PICKERING TOWN

Adam Mitchell, Tom Reid, Paul Hodgson, Simon Sturdy, Michael McNaughton, Tom Fenwick, Joel Ramm, Dave Hartas (Joe Connor ’55), Liam Salt (Jonathon Brown ’55), Ged Salt, Tom Adams ©

SUBS NOT USED Matthew Turnbull, Russell Parker

ATTENDANCE 107