Two more goals from Ollie Maltby fired Pinchbeck United into their second cup final of the season as they beat Peterborough Sports Reserves 2-1 on Saturday.
Maltby took his tally for the season to 54 with strikes early in each half of the PFA Senior Cup semi-final at Knight Street, with Gary Gibbs responding with a late stunner for Sports.
Player/boss Ian Dunn feels that beating Sports, who are top of the ChromaSport PDFL Premier Division, will give his Knights a huge boost in their bid for a treble.
He also knows that Pinchbeck will be strong favourites to beat ICA Sports in the final, which will be held at Peterborough United’s ABAX Stadium on Monday, May 15 (8pm)
Dunn said: “We have to be very pleased with the result and our performance. I felt we definitely deserved to win the game.
“I actually received a message from their manager after the game saying as much, which is always very nice to see – and was a nice touch from them.
“The match was very competitive, as you’d expect, and it was even at times. We had the better chances and probably had five or six clear-cut openings.
“Ollie (Maltby) even managed to miss an open goal, which is unlike him. Saying that, he got both goals – so it was hardly an off day for him.
“To be fair to Sports, they scored an absolute screamer in the final few minutes before the end – and had it come ten or 15 minutes earlier, we may have been in a bit of trouble.
“I felt that we dealt with their threat very well and I’m delighted with the performance.
“The treble is very much on and we’ve probably got three cup finals now – as I’d include the game at Sports in the league as must-win too.
“As I said before the game, this kind of result gives us the confidence to believe that we can beat them again and go for the title too. But, of course, reaching two actual cup finals is very impressive for us. We’ll be strong favourites for this one, as we’ve already beaten ICA Sports three times this season.
“The fact that it’s at the ABAX Stadium also makes it a great occasion – and it’s shaping up to be a memorable season for us.”
Pinchbeck return to league action on Saturday as they welcome Stanground Sports to Knight Street (2pm).
Pinchbeck: Martin, Shipley, Gardner, Smith, Brooks, Lawe, Bishop, Wright, Ogden, Dunn, Maltby. Subs used: Panton, Edwards. Not used: Gordan, Ross.
Attendance: 104.
