Mill Lane Saturday, April 2nd, 2011   Northern Counties East Premier Attendance: 534         Pickering Town 5 0 Scarborough Athletic
2010 /11

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Rudy Funk's first ninety minutes in charge showed how much work needs to be done as he watched his new side fall to a heavy defeat against Pickering Town at a warm Mill Lane. Boro's new boss was given a tremendous ovation by the large away following before kick off. Boro, who were hampered by the loss of the suspended Ryan Blott and the freshly departed Richard Medcalf began with Bill Law up front alongside Joel Hartley, Brenton Leister was also unavailable. Boro started well enough and Richard Dunning should have scored but failed to get a decent connection to a Graham Botham corner. Despite this solid enough start Pickering took an early lead, a through ball found Boro's back line all at sea which allowed Ged Dalton time and space and he easily beat Tom Woodhead. Five minutes later it got worse for Boro, again some static defending allowed Josh Greening all the time in the world to beat Woodhead. Now Boro were struggling and only a great save by Woodhead denied Dalton his second, then former Athletic player Billy Logan fired over after an error by Josh Clayton. Boro tried to get a foothold in the game but couldn't penetrate Pickering's back four, their cause wasn't helped when Gary Hepples had to be substituted after receiving a bad cut over his right eye. Three minutes before half time it was virtually game over when Pickering were awarded a penalty, Greening cut inside Clayton who made a great recovery tackle, the ball rebounded to Greening who was fouled by Nick McNamara, Nathan Cook stepped up and sent Woodhead the wrong way. Whatever was said at the break must have been taken on board, as Boro had a sustained spell of pressure, sub James Webb was unlucky to see his effort just go over, then McNamara's shot from distance hit the post with Rob Clark well beaten, then skipper Chris Jenkinson's looping header hit the crossbar. Just short of the hour mark Pickering made it four, albeit with a contentious penalty awarded by the referee, who deemed that Denny Ingram had committed a foul, again Nathan Cook easily beat Woodhead. Boro tried again but Hartley's header from a Webb cross was well wide, Boro were pushing forward and leaving themselves open at the back and only another great block by Woodhead kept the score down. Unfortunately he could do nothing about Pickering’s fifth, as Logan ran through unchallenged before slotting home. Soon after Boro made their second change giving a debut to James Palmer who immediately got involved when he went on a superb run past 3 players, this led to a cross by Frank Belt that was headed over by Webb. Law had Boro's next chance but his shot was tipped away by Clark, then Palmer made another good break down the right, before crossing for McNamara who fired straight at Clark. Unfortunately this performance was way below what everyone at the club are striving for, but now is the time for everyone to get behind the team and the new boss as we move into a new era as a club. Boro: Woodhead, Clayton (Palmer 70), Botham, Jenkinson (c), Ingram, Hepples (Webb 39), Belt, Dunning, Hartley, Law, McNamara Unused Subs: Gravill, Barker, Richardson Booked: Belt, Ingram, Webb, McNamara, Pickering Town: Clark, Aziz (c), Craig, Adams (Clough 70), C Cook, N Cook, Dalton, Logan, Hillier (Baxter 55), Greening, Ramm (McNaughton 82), Unused Subs: Gunn, Martin Goals: Dalton 7, Greening 12, N Cook (pen) 42, (pen) 59, Logan 68 Attendance: 534 Referee: I. Patton