RAUNDS TOWN 0
PINCHBECK UTD 1
Ollie Maltby’s first-half header was enough to give Pinchbeck United a 1-0 win at title rivals Raunds Town on Saturday as they opened up a four point lead at the top of the ChromaSport UCL Division One table.
Top scorer Maltby nodded home a Josh Smith cross on 43 minutes to settle a close clash at Kiln Park, although the hosts did have a player sent off early in the second half.
The win means the in-form Knights have now collected 36 points from the last 39 available.
Player/boss Ian Dunn felt his side could have won by a bigger margin, but accepted that the first half could have gone either way.
Dunn said: “To win and keep a clean sheet away at the second-placed side, you have to be delighted.
“I’m actually disappointed we didn’t get a few more goals against their ten men when they threw caution to the wind late on.
“At the end of the day, I never really felt that we were under pressure at any point.
“The first half could have gone either way. They had a few good chances and Swanny had to make a few saves, but I’d say they were pretty routine.
“I was surprised by them, actually. They usually like to get the ball down and play a bit, but they went quite direct and got the ball into good areas.
“I thought we dealt with them very well and then got a good goal of our own.”
Although the win sees the Knights open up a gap at the top, Dunn isn’t getting carried away with their title chances just yet.
“I expected us to be competitive this season,” added Dunn. “But I’d have obviously snapped your hand off if you’d offered me this position at the start of the season.
“Leagues aren’t won in November or December, though. We’re just shy of the half-way stage of the season and nobody here is getting carried away just yet.
“That being said, we do deserve to be top. We’ve beaten the teams in and around us and we’re here on merit.”
Pinchbeck: Swan, Gordon, A Murrell, Jack Smith, Brooks, Bishop, Wright, Tidswell, Ogden, Josh Smith, Maltby. Subs used: Dunn, Sergeant. Not used: Gardner.
