Pikes gain on leaders Mickleover

Liam Salt is Pickering's top scorer with 12 goals

Pickering Town moved into second place in the Koolsport NCEL Premier Division with a 4-2 home win over Shirebrook.

Two goals from Chris Batchelor plus strikes from Liam Salt and Steve Ward moved the Pikes ahead of Selby Town and three points behind leaders Mickleover.

Batchelor said: "After the midweek game when we got beat 7-0 (at Marske in the FA Vase) we needed to improve.

"I thought we were outstanding in the way we passed the ball, especially on a boggy pitch like that."

Batchelor held his nerve to score the crucial opening goal from the penalty spot despite several Pikes players having missed penalties recently.

"I think everyone's had a go," he added. "I just fancied it. I was happy to take it and gladly scored.

We want to be in the mixer at the end. Everything's looking good at the moment

Chris Batchelor

"It takes a lot of bottle to hit (the penalty) down the middle because if the keeper stands still and just catches it you look a bit of a plonker, but it worked."

Shirebrook played for 72 minutes with only 10 men after losing captain Jordan Johnson for giving away the penalty and then for arguing about it too strongly.

Shirebrook also won their own penalty at 3-1 down only to crash it against the bar and Batchelor was relieved to hang on for the points.

"They played really well and we just stuck it out," Batchelor added.

"We've caught a few teams up, we've got a couple of winnable games before the new year, and if you're up there after Christmas you're in there.

"We want to be in the mixer at the end. Everything's looking good at the moment."