Thorney 4
Pinchbeck United 4
Gutted Pinchbeck United player/boss Ian Dunn couldn’t hide his disappointment after seeing his side surrender a 4-2 lead with ten minutes to go at Thorney on Saturday.
Goals from Tom Gosling, 16-year-old debutant Steven Jucikas (2) and the returning Keith Gray had Pinchbeck in control of the ChromaSport Peterborugh and District League Premier Division clash, but they were pegged back to 4-4 by the final whistle.
It’s the fourth time Dunn’s side have drawn in ten league outings this season.
They have won five of the other six though – and the former double-winning chief admits they would be a lot higher than fifth if he’d been able to pick his strongest side week in, week out.
He said: “We really had a patched up side on Saturday. I just about cobbled a squad together.
“It’s a shame, but lately I’ve just not been able to get a settled side.
“People keep pulling out each week and it has been frustrating. No disrespect to Thorney, but we’d probably have won the game if we’d have got a stronger side out.
“We’ve picked up a lot of draws away from home with what I’d call scratch sides out – and I suppose this kind of thing is going to happen when you’re building a new team at this level.
“What I want is a settled team and to have the luxury of a selection headache. Instead, I had to call in a favour or two.
“Keith Gray really helped us out – and got himself an absolute cracker of a goal too. We took young Steven along too and he was in the right place to score twice.
“It’s not all bad. We’re in a good position and have played a lot of away games already.”
Gosling fired United ahead early on, but they were trailing 2-1 by the time Boston-based Jucikas jumped off the bench to put them 3-2 ahead at the break.
Gray, a member of the famed double-winning class of 2012, then fired home a 25-yard stunner to make it 4-2.
But Thorney, promoted as Division One champions last year, threw caution to the wind late on and pinched a point.
Pinchbeck are in Lincs Junior Cup action this Saturday, when they welcome Boston League side Old Leake to Knight Street (2.15pm).
Pinchbeck: Doughty, B Murrell, Dunn, Brooks, Lawe (Jucikas 34), Leggett, McDonnell, Maltby, Cooper, Gosling, Gray.
