Moulton Harrox’s title party will have to wait a few days longer after Tony Edwards’ second-half double fired Pinchbeck United to a 2-1 derby win at Knight Street on Tuesday night.
The Pinchbeck striker notched on 50 and 83 minutes to end Harrox’s amazing 30-game unbeaten run in the ChromaSport PDFL Premier Division and take the South Holland bragging rights.
Top scorer Ollie Maltby had earlier given Moulton a richly-deserved 16th-minute lead, but costly misses from Joe Townsend and Ben Allen before half-time ultimately proved key.
Champions-elect Moulton only needed a point to be guaranteed of the title, a feat Pinchbeck player/boss Ian Dunn is sure they’ll soon wrap up. But he was glad they didn’t do it at Knight Street.
Dunn said: “It really was the clichéd game of two halves. We didn’t turn up in the first half – and they probably could have had the game sewn up by half time.
“From our point of view, it’s nice that they didn’t win the trophy at our place. If I’m brutally honest, Moulton winning the trophy here would have been a kick in the teeth.
“This win keeps our chances of finishing second alive. Moulton still have to play Whittlesey and Whittlesey still have to play Netherton, while we’ve got what you’d call our big games out of the way now.
“There are no easy games, but if we can will all of our remaining league games we’ll have a great chance of finishing second behind Moulton.
“I think that would be brilliant for the area if they win it and we finish second – plus we’ve got a cup final against each other still to come.”
For Harrox boss Dave Panton, it was a case of Pinchbeck simply wanting it more than his side.
But he’s hoping that his talented team will bounce back and wrap up the title – before gaining revenge with a President Premier Shield final win at Stamford on May 13.
Panton said: “To be honest it was a classic derby game. There was a cracking crowd in too and Pinchbeck did enough to win it this time.
“We haven’t won anything yet and still have that point to find. I can’t fault the lads, we’ve had a lot of games lately and they are looking a bit tired. Take nothing away from Pinchbeck though, I think they wanted it more than us.
“I felt like we wanted it more when we met earlier in the season, but they got their own back. Ben Allen had an open goal to make it 2-0. If we’d have taken that chance, maybe things would have been different.
“It’s now 1-1 between us in the league – so we’ll go to Stamford for the cup final and see who wins that one.”
Harrox started much the better and duly went ahead on 16 minutes when Maltby stabbed home from close range after the hosts failed to deal with a high cross.
Townsend then headed a great chance over and Allen fired wide with the goal gaping as the table-toppers failed to extend their advantage.
It proved costly, as Pinchbeck improved markedly after the break.
They levelled five minutes in when Edwards’ looping cross deceived Harrox keeper Lee Kenealy and dropped into the top corner.
With Moulton looking increasingly tired, it was no surprise when Tom Sergeant won the hosts a clear penalty eight minutes from time.
Edwards stepped up and drilled a low penalty past Kenealy to keep Moulton’s champagne on ice.
Pinchbeck: Ashton, B Murrell, Gardner, Withers, A Murrell, Francis (Dunn 46), Edwards, Bishop, Sergeant, Wright, Ogden. Not used: Sae-Be, Eyes, Lawrence, Brown.
Harrox: Kenealy, Groves (Clay 57), Johnson, Patterson, Coddington, King, Townsend (Lambe-Hyner 62), Panton (Watkin 69), Bradbury, Maltby, Allen.
RESULTS
ChromaSport PDFL
Premier Division: AFC Stanground 4 Stilton United 8; Leverington Sports 1 Netherton United 2; Pinchbeck United 2 Moulton Harrox 1; Sawtry 0 Peterborough Sports Res 4.
Division Two: Whittlesey Athletic A 2 Ketton Reserves 1.
Division Four: Tydd St Mary Res 2 Holbeach Bank 1.
