Pinchbeck player-boss Ian Dunn is hoping his charges will take out their frustrations of a double whammy of postponements by moving another step closer to Lincolnshire Junior Cup glory on Saturday.
Dunn’s side host East Lincs Combination Division One table-toppers Tetney Rovers at Knight Street on Saturday (1.30pm) aiming to book a place in the quarter-finals of the coveted county competition.
But they go into the match after two weeks of inactivity following two successive postponements.
Their PFA Senior Cup clash with Holbeach United Reserves was called off a fortnight ago as the Tigers were unable to field a side with several players called up for first team duty.
And this weekend Wisbech Town Reserves cited the same lack of player availability for pulling out of their scheduled Peterborough League Premier Division clash.
Pinchbeck are expected to be handed a bye into the next round of the Senior Cup and will also be given the three league points, but Dunn admitted that the double postponement has been a cause for concern.
He said: “It’s very frustrating, especially when both sides are reserve teams of established United Counties League clubs.
“It would have been more understandable if one of the smaller village sides had been struggling for players for whatever reason.
“We will get the three points from Saturday’s match, but it’s more frustrating that we missed out on potentially boosting our goal difference.
“That could be crucial at the end of the season and I’m hoping that it doesn’t prove costly.
“It also means we go into a big cup tie having not had a game for three weeks which is just as concerning.
“I’m hoping that the frustration of not playing will fire the players rather than anyone worrying about being rusty.”
Visiting Tetney play in the same league as Moulton Harrox’s conquerors from last weekend North Somercotes United.
They have dropped just two points from their nine league matches this season and Dunn is expecting a tough, physical test.
He added: “It will be a tough match because they’ll raise their game and try to make a battle of it so we’ve got to rise above anything and play football our way.
“We’ve got a really strong referee which I think is a good appointment because he was superb when he refereed us against Moulton Harrox.”
Pinchbeck, after the unexpected two week break, will be looking to pick up their 12-match winning run again.
They last tasted defeat in August – a 2-1 home loss against Peterborough Sports Reserves – and in their last six games they have scored 32 goals and conceded just three.
Victory on Saturday will secure their third cup quarter-final place as they are also through to the last eight of the PFA Senior and President’s Shield competitions.
Goalkeeper Ricky Lovelace could be in contention for a return to action on Saturday after injuring his knee in the victory over AFC Stanground at the beginning of last month.
Fellow custodian Joe Ashton is also available for selection, but recent signing Corban Oldham – who has returned to the Knights from Moulton Harrox – is cup tied.
