PICKERING Town dropped to 11th position in the Northern Counties Eastern League premier division after a dramatic seven goal thriller against league leaders Penistone Church.

The firepower of Penistone fired the South Yorkshire side to three points at the Memorial Ground with Pickering failing to topple the leaders ten matches into the season, with the Pikes holding three games in hand to a lot of the league.

A sensational hat-trick from Nathan Keightley, who just reached over 250 appearances for the hosts, combined with a brace from Sam Scrivens meant that Penistone ran out 5-2 winners against Pickering, after consolation strikes from Harry Jessop and Ronnie Kelly.

Penistone had the lead on the brink of half-time, as a Burnett clearance was caught by the wind, with Tom Rose heading the ball back into the danger area.

Some nice passing down the left wing was finished with Ryan’s cross finding Scrivens in the area, who coolly slotted home from close range.

The second-half started faster with the Church almost taking the lead, only for a goal line clearance from Blake Drury to evade the danger.

Leon Hurles-Brook picked out Scrivens again on the right, who sized up his marker before firing a strike over the target.

The leaders doubled their advantage as a swift counter-attack saw a strike from the edge of the area deflected into the path of Keightley, who bagged his first of the afternoon with a composed finish into the bottom corner.

Penistone’s lead extended further as a long kick from goalkeeper Adam Lawlor caused problems for the Pickering defence, with Scrivens controlling excellently before sweeping a strike past Burnett, making it 3-0.

Pickering had a slither of hope after reducing the deficit to 3-1 with their first goal of the evening, as Harry Lovick and Jessop combined, with the latter meeting an eventual low cross to tuck home.

It was almost an immediate second for the Pikes after Jessop found himself unmarked in the area, but a superb stop from Lawlor thwarted the striker’s efforts.

Jessop was again denied when beating the offside trap from Lovick’s pass, with Lawlor again making an impressive stop.

But after a period of pressure from Pickering, they were finally rewarded as substitute Kelly raced onto a pass before unleashing a brilliant finish into the top corner, with the Pikes now believing they could salvage something from the contest.

Those hopes were quickly squashed by the hosts, as a clear handball forced the referee to award Church a penalty.

Keightley stepped up and made no mistake with a low strike, that Burnett got a hand to.

The three points for Penistone and Keightley’s hat-trick were confirmed in stoppage time, as an initial strike rattled the post before being forced over the line by the prolific Church striker.

 PICKERING TOWN: BURNETT, THORNTON, BROOKSBY, CASS, DRURY, DAWSON, HARRISON, LOVICK, JESSOP, STARES, BROWN

SUBS: WOOD, GARBUTT, CALVERT, KELLY, MOHSEN