JOHN Reed heralded his side's best performance in three years as Harrogate Town manager after Saturday's 2-1 victory at Unibond League big-hitters Barrow.

The Cumbrian side are packed with former Football League players but Town deserved to take the maximum points secured by Mark Smith's brace and are now just two points behind premier division leaders Hucknall Town.

Steve Gaughan fired Barrow in front on 11 minutes after dispossessing Colin Hunter but he made amends on 26 minutes, providing the corner that Smith met with a thunderous header to level the scores.

Smith, Mark Ford and Glenn Naylor then all had further chances before the winning goal arrived on 80 minutes when Smith turned to fire home after a cross into the box was only half-cleared by the home defence.

Liam Sutcliffe was the quietest of the two goalkeepers but still made two fine saves to deny Gaughan and Lee Warren.

Delighted boss Reed said: "It was the best performance since I've been here. They were lucky to get away with 2-1 because we totally outplayed them in front of their big crowd.

"They were second best in terms of football and endeavour. It was an unbelievable result and a fantastic team performance."

Third-placed Pickering Town's excellent Northern Counties East League premier division form continued with a 2-1 home victory over Glapwell.

The Pikes are just two points behind new premier division leaders Brigg Town, where they travel for a mouth-watering clash on Saturday with three games in hand.

Danny Farthing scored Pickering's first on 12 minutes but Glapwell drew level with a controversial goal after home goalkeeper Kevin Martin appeared to be fouled.

But Gavin Dickenson secured victory seven minutes from time after collecting Alex Willgrass' through ball.

Pickering boss Steve Brown will be giving several fringe players a run-out in tomorrow's North Riding Cup home match with Grange Town Boys Club, kick-off 7.45pm.

Former Huddersfield defender Chris Brown made his debut in Harrogate Railway's 1-1 draw with Eccleshill United.

Brown was released by the Terriers last season and has been playing with Railway manager Martin Haresign's former club Farsley Celtic.

Eccleshill took the lead through James Couborough on 55 minutes but Steve Davey equalised moments later following a great through ball by Damien Holmes.

Former York City striker Ian Blackstone, and now assistant manager to Haresign, was then denied a winner by the visiting goalkeeper.

'Schoolboy' defending by Selby Town saw the Robins take a tumble in the NCEL premier division away to Thackley, writes Sally Fletcher.

The high-flying Robins suffered their second league defeat in two games with a 3-2 defeat in the last minute to the fourth-placed side.

Selby worked to keep the scores level until half-time, but fell behind early in the second when the home side struck with a free header from a corner.

Town were quick to reply through Joe Gaughan racing to the other end to level.

But another Thackley corner and another free header saw the Robins fall behind again ten minutes later.

An equaliser from an Andy Hart free-kick gave the Robins another lifeline with a chance to take the lead bouncing off the woodwork.

In the last minute the home side stole all three points after a defensive error by centre-back Nigel Croad on the edge of the box.

Fumed Town manager Bob Lyson: "They defended like schoolboys. If they play like that again I don't think we'll ever keep another clean sheet.

"I said I wanted them to keep it tight but that was just really bad defending.

"Now we've got to start again on Tuesday and get going all over again."

In the NCEL first division, Tadcaster Albion moved up to 12th place after ending visitors Gedling Town's unbeaten record with a 1-0 win.

Updated: 10:10 Monday, October 27, 2003