After a disappointing first half, the Pikes fought back from a two-goal deficit to salvage a 3-3 draw at Lincolnshire and maintain their 14th place in the NCEL Premier Division.
Former Pikes wingers Matthew Broadley and Cody Collins scored in the 26th minute to give the hosts the lead, but the debutant was substituted just before half-time after in-form Omar Sanyang missed a penalty. Max Bauer scored the shot, giving Pickering a glimmer of hope. Hope.
Sanyo then equalized with seven minutes remaining, but that was just the beginning of the late drama.
Broadley was in a great position to slam home what looked like the game-winning goal in stoppage time, but Jamie Thornton was sent off moments later, but Ethan Cachosa scored in the final minute as the spoils were shared. He marked his debut by scoring the equalizing goal.
Connor explained to club media: “I just told them I was very proud of their performance in the second half and how they responded and how they did in the second half.”
“But I also think the first half was unacceptable and we let ourselves down in the first half by not doing what they asked us to do and not putting into the plan what we have been working on. appealed to them” with them.
“It was very disappointing in the first half, but in the second half there was only one team trying to win the game.
“We completely controlled the game, we controlled possession and that's what we asked them to do. It would have been a travesty if we had done nothing.”
New signings Cachosa, Bauer and Alex Zachariou slotted straight into Pickering's lineup, but it took just three minutes for Botsford to take the lead when Broadley headed home Mason Chafer's pinpoint cross.
The Pikes looked for a response and saw their shot hit the woodwork, but they were soon two points behind when Collins' clearance found the back of the net.
They were given a golden chance to halve the gap after Sanyo was brought down by goalkeeper Graham Anderson, but his shot from the spot went wide.
However, a delicate shot from Bauer just before half-time ensured all hope was not lost.
Pickering had the upper hand after the break but suffered a blow in the 75th minute when man of the match Blake Drury was stretchered off the pitch with a knee injury.
However, Sanyo atoned for the penalty mistake by scoring the equalizer with seven minutes left in the game, deflecting Ronnie Kelly's pass home along the six-yard box.
But drama ensued in the closing stages and Broadley appeared to have secured the points for the hosts.
Thornton was sent off for an immediate protest, but in the 11th minute of stoppage time, the pendulum swung back at Pickering and Cachosa smashed the ball into the roof of the net, giving his team a point.
Pikes return to action on Saturday (3pm) at home against Beverley Town.
