Joe Danby’s goal-scoring efforts hailed by Pickering Town boss

The former Scarborough FC centre of excellence forward has left his mark on teams across the Northern Counties East League premier division this season – bagging 25 goals in league and cup action.

Only Heanor Town’s Kieran Debrouwer has scored more in the league than Danby, who has been deadly in the first half of games.

Sixteen of his goals have been scored in the opening period and the strikes have helped to make the Pikes the premier tier’s most prolific scorers with 88 goals in just 28 games.

With club record scorer Liam Salt having suffered a knee injury in pre-season that has kept him out of the entire campaign, Cook is delighted he has been able to lean on Danby to more than fill the void.

“Joe Danby was the best finisher that we ever had at the Scarborough centre of excellence,” he said. “He was always calm and composed.

“It was only a matter of time before he got an opportunity and he’s stronger now than he was a couple of years ago.

“He plays for the team as well as having his ability to score. He gets himself in positions and also creates.

“He is in the right position at the end for a lot of goals.”

Cook added: “But Joe’s in good company as well. He deserves the credit but so do the rest of the team. He is scoring but Josh Greening must also have about 15 or 16 goals as well.

“They are both players that get involved in the game.”

Meanwhile, Ben Lock, one of former manager Jimmy Reid’s last acquisitions as Pickering boss, has left the club to join NCEL division one neighbours Selby Town.

Cook added: “He felt he deserved a bit more of an opportunity. We spoke about it and I wanted him to stay and I said the opportunity would come as it has for Sam Calvert.

“It was his decision. He felt he should be playing every week.”

Meanwhile, Tadcaster Albion return to action at Basford United keen to rekindle their top-tier promotion push after yielding their 24-match unbeaten run on the last weekend before Christmas.