Nostell Miners Welfare’s young midfielder James Davies was harshly sent off in his side’s 4-2 defeat to Pickering
Nostell Miners Welfare’s 4-2 defeat to Pickering Town was further compounded by Greg Porter’s serious injury and then the harsh red cards shown to James Davies and their manager Paul Lines.
It was just not Nostell’s night and the performance was a long way from the displays which earned them three straight wins and then enabled them to push Toolstation NCEL Premier Division title-chasers Shaw Lane Aquaforce all the way on Saturday.
One of their best players since Lines arrived in November, Porter was stretchered off after just four minutes and that left Nostell disjointed.
Lines was already down on players with David Bordman and Tony Doran missing from the Shaw Lane defeat.
Midfielder Simon Poole even left Crofton with severe black eye which was sustained in the first half.
Confusion at the back allowed Pickering to take the front foot on 21 minutes and Joe Danby was the recipient of good fortune – the forward lobbing goalkeeper Ben Saynor.
The task became even harder for Nostell close to half-time. Already-cautioned – for dissent – Davies committed a run-of-the-mill foul on the halfway – his first foul of the night. Referee David Sullivan showed no mercy and quickly issued the second yellow card and sent the young midfielder on his way for an early bath.
An extremely harsh decision and a huge disappointment for a young midfielder, who has grasped his recent run in the Nostell side.
The second half began in disastrous fashion for Nostell as they conceded after 46 seconds. Billy Logan broke down the right and Robbie Hawkes headed home at the back-post from the resulting cross.
Tensions boiled over on the hour as Lines was harshly dismissed by Mr Sullivan after shouting a swear word at the official. The Nostell manager was then involved in heated exchanges with a number of Pickering players as he made his exit.
By this point, Nostell, who had several players booked, had Rob Bordman playing at centre-half and it was a damage limitation exercise.
Lewis Taylor added the third with a fine volley and Logan rounded off a great night for the visitors by catching Saynor out with a long range attempt.
Nostell did halve the deficit with two late goals. Bordman’s superb long ball was taken down expertly by Ste Wales and the winger turned and finished in one sweeping move.
Logan hit the crossbar as Pickering attempted to add the fifth before an injury-time penalty gave Bordman his goal.
The defeat leaves Nostell still in trouble and Lines will need to add to his squad with Porter likely to be absent for quite a while and Davies, now suspended for the visit of Handsworth Parramore on March 10th.
Nostell Miners Welfare: Saynor, Thompson, Johnson, Davies, Porter (Burgess 4 (Varley 75), Fisher, O’Neill, Poole, Kelly, Bordman, Wales. Subs unused: Rhodes, Mole, Parkin.
Pickering Town: Wells, Belt, Batchelor, Patterson, Tilsley, Aziz (captain), Hawkes (Simpson 77), Cooper (Hutchinson 75), Logan, Taylor, Danby. Sub unused: Gibb.
Referee: David Sullivan
Ref Rating: 6/10
Attendance: 45
Man of the match: Robbie Hawkes (Pickering Town)