Lessons for Pinchbeck to learn

Pinchbeck boss Ian Dunn is hoping his side will have learned their lesson after squandering a two-goal lead for the second successive match in Tuesday night’s derby duel at Moulton Harrox.
After letting a 2-0 advantage slip in Saturday’s Peterborough League Premier Division clash at Sawtry, https://spaldingvoice.co.uk/pinchbeck-pegged-back-after-poor-display/ Pinchbeck again saw a match-winning position fall from their grasp at Broad Lane.
A whirlwind start had seen Dunn’s charges race into a two-goal lead inside the opening six minutes.
However, a defensive mistake in the latter stages of the first half saw Moulton halve the deficit before the reigning Premier Division champions levelled just after the break.
And Dunn admitted his side have got to learn to maintain their momentum for the full match rather than just in bursts.
He commented: “We started like a train and there was only one team in it, but we were guilty of taking our foot off the gas and being too lazy.
“We made a mistake which let them back in and it got their tails up. They scored early in the second half and looked fitter and stronger.
“We can’t just turn up for 20 minutes – we have to play for the full 90.
“We have got to learn that teams in this league are not going to give up. They will keep fighting and battling until the end.”
Chris Shipley had given Pinchbeck the lead when he rose highest to power home the opening goal after just two minutes.
And the visitors then doubled their advantage just minutes later when Tom Panton rifled home against his former club.
Pinchbeck looked set to run away with the contest as they continued to pepper Lee Kenealy’s goal and the Moulton goalkeeper had to pull off a couple of smart saves to keep the home side in the contest.
However, Moulton were handed a lifeline in the latter stages of the first half when debutant Pinchbeck full-back Jon Macleod – who is dual registered with Wyberton in the Lincolnshire League – allowed a through ball to roll under his foot and Joe Townsend gleefully raced clear to fire home the hosts’ opening goal.
Harrox then got back on level terms five minutes into the second period when Corban Oldham slotted home.
Both sides had chances to snatch the winner with summer signing Marcus Parry hitting the crossbar for the hosts and Brad Murrell smashing a free-kick against the woodwork for Pinchbeck.
Visiting goalkeeper Joe Ashton then made a good save to deny Moulton in a one-on-one.
Pinchbeck finished the match with ten men after Tony Edwards received his marching orders for collecting two yellow cards in quick succession.
And, after seeing his side relinquish control of proceedings as the contest wore, Dunn was relieved to return with a point which maintained their unbeaten start to the season.
He added: “It comes down to fine margins. Tony had a chance to put us 3-0 up and then we made a mistake which lets them back into the game.
“We’ve done that two games in a row now and there’s no excuse for it.
“I thought initially it was two points dropped but, after how we played in the second half, it might be one point gained.
“They wanted it a bit more than us in the second half and probably deserved to win it but, after being two goals up, we’re disappointed not to have won it.
“It felt like a loss, but we have still come away with a point. We’ve still got work to do and that needs to be done quickly.”
Pinchbeck – who had Ollie Maltby, Liam Ogden, Tom Brooks and Jack Smith all missing in midweek – face another tough test on Saturday when they host Peterborough Sports Reserves.
It’s Pinchbeck’s first home league game of the campaign in what has been a run of difficult opening fixtures.
Dunn continued: “It doesn’t get any easier with Peterborough Sports visiting us on Saturday.
“We’ve had four tough games with key players missing and we’ve come through it unscathed.
“Now I’m looking forward to having a fully-fit squad to see what we’re capable of.”