Pinchbeck United 2
Sherwood Colliery 6
Pinchbeck United’s historic run in this year’s FA Vase continues this Saturday as they host St Panteleimon at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field (3pm).
Having not won a single game in the national competition until this season, the clash is in the third round proper – and they are the area’s last remaining representative.
Opponents St Panteleimon are in the Spartan South Midlands Football League side, based north of London not too far from Harlow.
They are currently eighth in the standings with seven wins, four draws and four defeats from their 15 league games.
As for Pinchbeck, they come into perhaps the biggest game in their history is pretty poor form.
There was no better example of that than on Saturday, as they were handed a 6-2 home hammering by Sherwood Colliery side they defeated 4-3 earlier in their FA Vase run.
With key striker Avi Vieira back from injury, Lewis Thorogood’s Knights were looking to bounce back from their 4-0 defeat against Newark & Sherwood United the following week.
They started nicely, with Zene Millar sending an early chance over the bar.
At the other end, Luis Rose – who would go on to get a hat-trick – delivered an early warning when he sent an effort just wide on the volley.
However, it was Ben Johnson, who sent a volley wide moments earlier, that broke the deadlock on 34 minutes at the Sir Halley when he burst clear and fired under the keeper.
The lead only lasted five minutes though, as Ethan Wiesztort (40) soon levelling and Rose (42) then putting Colliery 2-1 ahead at the break.
Pinchbeck showed some endeavour early in the second period and looked more than capable of getting back into the game.
But things took a turn for the worse on 55 minutes when Aaron Korpal put the visitors into a commanding position at 3-1.
If that wasn’t game over, Rose’s second of the day two minutes later seemingly ended the clash as a contest.
The Knights have plenty of fight in them though, and reduced their arrears to 4-2 when skipper Neal Spafford’s dangerous cross was turned into his own net by an away defender.
Pinchbeck hunted for a third goal to set up a grandstand finish, but it was Sherwood who had the final word.
First it was Rose who completed his hat-trick on 80 minutes, before William Norcross (86) made it six, giving the scoreline a very harsh look.
The Knights will hope for much better in their big clash on Saturday.
Knights: Smith, Dilley, Millar, Spafford, Simpson, Sherrif, Foster, Peasgood, Vieira, Johnson, Williams. Subs used: Burdass, Hardstaff, Henderson, Worthington.
p Attendance: 36.
