PROFLIGATE Pickering Town prevailed in the North Yorkshire derby, but they so nearly let in visiting Scarborough Athletic for a share of the spoils.

The feisty Northern Counties East League premier division duel ended 2-1 to the Pikes at a Recreation Ground whose attendance was swelled beyond the 500 mark by a hefty away contingent.

And had it not been for an acrobatic tip over the crossbar of a Mark Griffin shot by ’keeper Kevin Martin in stoppage-time, the visitors would have had an equaliser.

It was a bizarre conclusion to a game Pickering should have had sewn up well before those nervy last few minutes. After Richard Medcalf was sent off early in the second half for a reckless lunge which left Martin needing treatment to a leg injury, the hosts carved out numerous openings only to spurn all but one of them.

Said Pickering manager Mark Wood: “The game should have been well out of reach, but we just could not finish them off. You had to give credit to Scarborough, they gave us a scare in those last few minutes. I thought though we played well enough to have won quite comfortably had we taken our chances.”

Deadlock in a fairly even first half was broken when Athletic conceded a penalty, goalkeeper Glen Powley bringing down the lively Darren Clough, whose instant control in fastening on to a crossfield pass from Chaz Wrigley was sublime. Tom Adams rapped home the spot-kick.

The second-half had barely started when the visitors were reduced to ten men through Medcalf’s dismissal. With Clough and Ricky Greening menacing out wide, and Wrigley and Adams eager to supply them, Pickering took command. But chances went begging until Liam Salt tapped in Clough’s inviting cross to double the home lead.

Athletic refused to buckle and as the Pikes retreated in panic Ryan Blott seized on a defensive gaffe to whip in a reply off an upright.

The stowing away of the priceless three points will put Wood’s men in good heart for tomorrow’s clash at home to Shirebrook.

Selby Town were toppled 2-0 by visitors Winterton.

Ground was also lost in the first division by Tadcaster Albion. They slipped to fourth after sharing the spoils in a Friday night exchange at Barton Town.

Albion trailed 2-0 after six minutes but rallied to a point with second-half goals from Andy Sunley and Graeme Whitehead.

Harrogate Town crashed to a 4-0 home defeat to Stalybridge in Blue Square North. Harrogate Railway moved out of the UniBond division one north bottom two with a 3-1 conquest of Lancaster City.