Pinchbeck United have defended their decision to pull their Reserve team out of ChromaSport PDFL Division Two following an alleged assault by one of the club’s players on a referee over the weekend.
It is said that Pinchbeck Reserves’ Reece Parker attacked Spalding referee Phil Hayes as the team left their field at half time at Tydd St Mary on Saturday.
Hayes immediately abandoned the game, which hosts Tydd were winning 4-0, while police have been made aware of the incident and have confirmed that they are carrying out enquiries.
Pinchbeck quickly issued a statement, which revealed that they were pulling their side out of the PDFL with immediate effect.
It read: “Pinchbeck United Football Club are disgusted and appalled by the behaviour of one of our reserve players today.
“His actions are certainly not a representation of our football club and there is no place for that in football. We have already been in touch with the PDFL, Tydd St Mary and most importantly the referee to apologise profusely for his actions.
“As a result, the reserve team will be withdrawn from their league with immediate effect. We hope this incident doesn’t put Phil off continuing to referee, as he is a top quality and well respected official at this level of football.”
Although the decision was widely applauded, detractors have voiced concerns that Pinchbeck’s decision is incredibly harsh on the team’s other players.
Club chairman Andrew Withers disagrees with that view – and admits that the club were already considering folding the reserve team in the week’s leading up to Saturday’s incident.
He said: “I think the incident was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said Withers. “It had become hard to justify the existence of the reserve team.
“I feel sorry for the six or seven players that have been committed to the team week in, week out.
“But it had become a real problem for the club. The manager (Dom Mason) was forced to constantly scramble for players – and many of them let us down week after week, even on the morning of a game.
“We were fortunate that a recent game was called off, as we only had seven men.
“A reserve team is supposed to give young players valuable experience and have players capable of stepping up to the first team. But it was the first team who were constantly propping them up.
“In truth, the negativity surrounding the reserve team has taken away from the great progress we’ve been making as a club.”
That’s a view shared by first team player/boss Ian Dunn, who is frustrated that the incredible form shown by his charges is going under the radar.
Saturday’s 5-1 Lincs Junior Cup win over Tetney Rovers booked them a county quarter-final with Nettleham – and made it 13 wins on the spin in all competitions.
Top scorer Ollie Maltby netted four goals in the Knight Street romp, with Liam Ogden the other on target.
Pinchbeck are now in three cup quarter-finals and are sitting pretty in the PDFL Premier Division, something Dunn is very proud of.
He said: “Saturday’s events in the reserve team took the gloss off another great win for us.
“It’s been a bit frustrating really, we seem to be making a lot of headlines for the wrong reasons at the club.
“It’s such a shame for the lads in the first team. They’re putting an amazing amount of effort in and we’re doing amazingly well.
“Saturday’s win was pretty comfortable. Ollie’s first goal was a top team move and as good as any goal you’ll see at our level.
“Tetney came and had a go, but we looked like we had a few more gears to us.
“We’ve got a home draw and obviously want to win the competition. But all eight sides left are capable of winning it.”
Pinchbeck: Ashton, B Murrell, Gardner, Brooks, Smith, Bishop, Wright, Shipley, Ogden, Panton, Maltby. Subs used: Dunn, Francis, Ross. Unused: Edwards, Eyes.
Attendance: 50
