11: Pickering Tn 3-2 Scarborough Ath

Pickering Town 3-2 Scarborough Athletic
NCEL Premier
Saturday 6th October, 2012
Att: 648

I hate football sometimes. Honest, I do.

Games come along that you genuinely look forward to, and the North Yorkshire derby away at Pickering Town is always one of them. This season, like last, we entered the game in the top two of the division knowing that our opponents, on paper, were weaker. Basically, we were very hopeful of a nice day out in front of a big crowd, and three points. I'd also taken along two family members, including a 6-year old who was attending his first ever Boro match, to show them what good football we are playing this season...

After being dropped off near the ground at about 2:20, you could sense there'd be a big crowd for the game, and this was confirmed by kick-off, with the three-sided ground looking very full indeed. 648 had made it to this NCEL Premier division match, an attendance which will most likely be the highest in the division until Boxing Day when Boro and Bridlington lock horns. It was also around 100 up on last season's respective fixture, though that one was played midweek.

Boro kicked towards the small seated stand behind the goal in the first half, and were 2-0 up by quarter past three through Bennett and Blott. It was going to be a nice comfortably three points to keep the pressure on Bridlington. When will we learn that football can often upset the apple cart?

By half time, Boro had been pegged back to 2-2 through some woeful defending, and probably complacency. Not to worry, we thought, Rudy will fire them up at half time. Many fans around me were talking of a 4-2 or 5-2 away victory. Again - wrong.

The only goal of the second half fell to Pickering, after some AWOL defending, and Boro would fall to only their second league defeat of the season. Robbie Hawkes, who'd had a decent enough game, ended the match with a straight red card as he brought down the Pickering forward as he advanced on goal in the 90th minute.

On the day, you have to hold your hand up and acknowledge that Pickering wanted it more, and they probably got what they deserved. A 3-3 draw wouldn't have been unfair on either side though, had Boro converted one of their many crosses in the second half.

Food for thought as a tough away trip to Barton on Wednesday night looms.

Boro stayed 2nd after Worksop lost, but Bridlington now have a three point lead over the Seadogs. It's a lead that we shouldn't really be letting get any bigger if we're to keep immediate pressure on the landlords.