Pinchbeck United 3
Dunkirk 2
Pinchbeck United showed plenty of spirit against Dunkirk as a patched up side created more FA Vase history with a winner from a debutant playing his first game in English football.
Despite missing eight key players, one being recalled on the day of the game and losing two more to injury in the first half, they came from behind to win with an 83rd minute from Ruvin Ponomarov.
The Ukrainian who has played in that country’s second tier has signed on duel-forms with Pinchbeck and Stamford.
The Knights will play north west London side St Pantelemimon at the Sir Halley Stewart on Saturday, December 3 in the third round of the competition.
“With the eight missing and Owen Sheriff being recalled by Boston on the day of the game we didn’t have any recognised centre backs,” delighted manager Lewis Thorogood said. “It was a big blow, so we had to shuffle the pack, move midfielders into the defence and put in some squad players who hadn’t had much game time.
“We had to go out and just put out the best performance we could.”
Both sides created chances from the off with Pinchbeck keeper Alex Smith pulling off a good save to stop a volley from close range.
Avelino Viera was frequently in action at the other end having a header well saved before he gave the Knights a 20th minute lead, beating the offside trap and putting a fine finish past the keeper.
The same player found himself one-on-one again moments later but this time keeper Jake Want saved well.
Smith produced another good save low down to his right but Pinchbeck missed a big chance to make it 2-0 before half time.
The ball ricocheted to Elliot Foster in the box but he was unable to keep his shot down.
Ponomarov came on at the break for Viera who suffered a hamstring injury, adding to Ellis Perry-Burdett earlier having been carried off with an ankle injury.
A slow start to the second half meant Dunkirk were level just two minutes from the restart. Smith failed to punch clear a corner which was instead headed back across goal for George Harrison to make it 1-1.
Dunkirk were now on top and felt they should have had a penalty and possibly a red card after Lavell White got goal side of the last defender before the pair came together.
But they did take the lead in the 68th minute with a fine curling strike from outside the box by Joe Harrison that Smith could do nothing about.
“To be brutally honest, I didn’t see us getting back into it,” Thorogood said. “But then we just had a ten-minute spell where the boys showed unbelievable character and desire.
“It was brilliant to see from a patched up side including four or five 17-year-olds.”
The Knights levelled on 78 minutes. This time it was Ben Johnson with the left-footed strike that left the keeper stranded.
Foster headed over the bar from very close range before the lead came again in the 83rd minute thanks to Ponomarov.
He was at the back post to guide home Stevens’ cross.
“He’s been going through all the correct international clearances and Stamford really like him as a player.
“Graham Drury rang me up and asked if we could get him a bit of game time.
“He’s played to a very high level in Ukraine and you can see he’s very skilful and clued up.
“He’s a very tricky attacking wide player who knows how to play the game.
“Hopefully we’ll benefit him and his development.”
Pinchbeck’s next Vase opponents St Pantelemimon a side only formed in 2015 by members of the Greek Orthodox community and who have also never been this far in the FA Vase.
Before that it’s back to United Counties League action for Pinchbeck this weekend as they travel to Newark and Sherwood.
That’s before a home Lincolnshire County Cup semi final against Skegness Town on Wednesday, November 23.
Thorogood said: “We’ve got to put the Vase on the back burner, pick up more wins in the league and I want to progress into the county cup semi finals.
“There may well be more faces coming and I’ve currently only got ten, but I also don’t want to tinker too much as this is a very tight knit group.
“That bond and togetherness was in evidence particularly on Friday and we’re taking that into the league.
“Also my medical team are working hard on getting a number of them back to fitness.”
