PICKERING Town boss Steve Roberts is happy with what he has seen so far from his side at the start of pre-season.

The Pikes kicked off their preparations for the 2021/22 campaign last Tuesday with a comfortable 6-0 win at Ryedale Sports Club.

Jason Barnes got Pickering off the mark against their Beckett League hosts and Tom Alngohuro added a well-taken free kick before half-time.

In the second period, Will Taylor added to three goals shared between two trialists.

In all, around 20 outfield players got a run against Ryedale, with a mix of trialists and more established players in each half, with Roberts revealing that he hopes to add sign a couple more trialists soon.

“The most important thing was getting some minutes in the bank for a lot of players,” Roberts said. “Everyone did 45 minutes, one or two did a little more.

“We spoke about getting as much out of them as possible, being on the front foot.

“Some who were only playing for 45 minutes knew that from the start so it was about getting the best out of those 45 minutes.

“I was pleased with one or two of the trialists - that’s something we’ll look at again - and with Tom getting his goal from a good free kick.

“Ryedale worked really hard - respect to them, they didn’t stop. I was adamant that we keep a clean sheet and we did that. I was pleased with the run-out for the first game.”

Roberts is also hoping to maintain the links forged with Ryedale and play them again in the future.

“I can’t thank them enough, they looked after us really well,” he said.

“They made us welcome, put some nice food on for the players after and the game was played in the right way - competitive but nothing went silly.

“As long as I’m doing it, I’ll be glad to keep that link going between two local sides.”

Pickering followed up with the win at Ryedale by thrashing Kirkbymoorside 8-1 on Tuesday evening.

Goals from Barnes, Jack Johnson and Ben Clappison put the Pikes well on top before two trialists got on the scoresheet before half-time.

Alngohuro, Ged Dalton and Wayne Brooksby all found the target in the second half for the Pikes, whose pre-season continues at North Ferriby on Saturday (3pm).

Elsewhere, Roberts and others at Pickering raised over £500 when they completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge at the weekend.

The Pikes boss was joined by assistant Tony Hackworth, chairman Wayne Taylor, committee members Jamie Hopwood and Sam Prest, players Ged Dalton and Wayne Brooksby, and Gordon Gibb of sponsors Flamingo Land.

The money raised is being split between the club and physiotherapy for Scarborough-based 24-year-old Sam Critchett, who is raising funds for physiotherapy to assist in his journey to walk again after spinal cancer.

“It was gruelling but I think everyone involved enjoyed it,” Roberts said. “It was nice to have a chat with the chairman and Gordon Gibb away from football. It was a good day for all involved.”

Pickering have been exempted from the FA Cup extra preliminary round so will start next season on August 14 with a Northern Premier League east division fixture.