Nathan Stevens’ sending off late in the first half proved to be the turning point as Pinchbeck United went down to a 5-1 defeat at Loughborough Students in Premier Division North of the United Counties League on Saturday.
The Knights had lost the reverse fixture 11-0 but looked well in the game until they were reduced to ten men.
An own goal from full-back Oliver Fields put the hosts ahead but a foul on Hugo Hunt allowed Kelvin Ibeneme to level from the penalty spot.
Stevens was dismissed just before the break after picking up a second booking.
His first came after a mis-timed challenge but the second was controversial. He won the ball but was quickly dispossessed. The Students’ attack was then halted by the assistant’s flag and, after speaking to the referee, a second yellow card was shown.
Despite putting in a solid shift in the second half, the hosts’ one-man advantage proved crucial as they netted four more without reply inside 18 minutes, including another own goal, this time from Ben Robson.
To compound the visitors’ misery, they lost Joe Melson to a serious ankle injury.
Marshall Young made a solid debut after his move from Boston Town.
Knights: Cox, Fields, Stevens, Melson (Henderson), Wallace, Robson, Kanu (Slater), Spafford, Hunt (Bowen), Ibeneme (Fogg), Young. Attendance: 131.
