Deflated Pinchbeck United player/boss Ian Dunn felt his side showed a bit of naivety during Friday night’s 5-1 home FA Vase hammering against Holbeach United.
The Knights had the better of the chances in a goalless first period, but were put to the sword after the break – with four of the five goals coming in the last 15 minutes (report here).
Dunn was happy with how his charges acquitted themselves regardless of the result, believing the scoreline was ultimately a little misleading.
“The match is reflective of our first six games,” bemoaned Dunn. We’ve been banging on about it, but we should have gone in – minimum – 2-0 up at half-time.
“If we’d taken our chances, it would have been a different game in the second half as they’d have had to chase it.
“Then we see Mitch (Griffiths) bury a half-chance for them. It’s a massive learning curve for the lads, to be honest.
“I don’t know what to say, really. I’m gutted because we should have been ahead at half-time – and Holbeach know that.
“I think we acquitted ourselves very well, but were then very naïve to concede all those goals at the end. It wasn’t a 5-1 game, but a lot of heads went.
“When we had to take Nick Bishop off we lacked a bit of leadership and had a lot of young lads out on the pitch. At the end, we missed having a bit of experience at the back.
“We simply had to chase the game and they punished us for being naïve. They reacted to every ball that dropped in the box, we didn’t. We have to take this game as a big learning curve.
“But these are the kind of games we wanted to be involved in. It’s a great achievement for a club like us to just be in this match. What was the crowd, 262?
“I could hear Holbeach celebrating in the dressing room – you can tell they know they were in a game.
“They took their chances and deserved to win. But, on the balance of play, the game was closer than the scoreline suggests.
“They’ve got an experienced UCL side. But the pleasing thing is that, at times, we hurt them.”
Pinchbeck number two Allan Ross was brimming with pride despite the defeat, insisting that the clash is his proudest moment in his three years with the Knights.
He said: “The game was all about Pinchbeck United being in a proper FA competition.
“This felt like a proper non-league night. A year ago we were probably getting ready for a trip to Sawtry.
“We watched them four times and prepared as best we can. We knew they could score five goals against us, but we had a chance to win the game.
“I think their fitness levels were better than ours and it showed and their superior physicality showed.
“Look at our squad. We’re still pretty much a Peterborough Premier Division squad – we’ve only really brought in Andrew Tidswell who has recently played at a higher standard than this.
“We’ve kept the team together and, whatever the score, this is still our proudest moment at this club. Ian and I wanted this and to be a part of games like this.
“We’ve been through some tough times that have made us want to throw the towel in, but we made it to a game like this one.
“I’m proud of that. The amount of people that came out to watch a game of football at this level was amazing – and most of them were supporting Pinchbeck.
“Sadly, the game just came at the wrong time for us with injuries and unavailability.”
Pinchbeck are back in UCL Division One action at Blackstones on Wednesday night (7.45pm).
