BUGBROOKE SM 0
PINCHBECK UTD 3
Ian Dunn admitted that he couldn’t have asked for a better away performance on Saturday as his Pinchbeck United side extended their lead at the top of ChromaSport UCL Division One to seven points.
A second-half double from Ollie Maltby (48 and 55), plus a maiden goal from youngster Oli Shackleton late on, gave the Knights a well-deserved 3-0 victory at Bugbrooke St Michaels.
Pinchbeck did have striker Tony Edwards sent off for what Dunn called an “indefensible stamp”, but it was still another successful day for the table-toppers.
Dunn said: “We identified a few areas we thought we could exploit ahead of the match and the lads executed the plan well. We also mixed things up a bit. Ollie (Maltby) had been on a bit of a barren run, so me moved him a bit deeper and even changed his shirt number.
“It paid dividends really, as Ollie got his two goals, found plenty of space and was arriving late in the box.
“The full-backs were also pushing forward nicely and Andrew Tidswell was running things from midfield.
“We maybe overcomplicated things a bit in the first half, but after the break it was everything I could ask for from an away performance.
“Having Tony sent off wasn’t ideal, but it was indefensible. He deserved to be sent off.
“It was another one of those days where it felt very important to win. Lots of games were called off and Rushden and Higham dropped points.
“Sure, teams have games in hand on us. But we’ve got a good advantage and I’d always prefer having the points on the board.
“Having a seven-point lead going into Christmas is great and we couldn’t really have expected much more.”
With Liam Ogden, Nick Bishop, Tom Brooks and Luke Gardner out, player/boss Dunn handed himself a rare start in attack.
Tyler Wright rattled the woodwork in a goalless first period, while Dunn himself also went close.
After the break it was a different story, with Maltby breaking the deadlock three minutes in. Edwards flicked the ball to Dunn, who produced a clever hooked pass for the top scorer to run onto and slot home.
Dunn also teed-up Maltby’s second, crossing for him to tap home his 23rd of the season – although Bugbrooke were unhappy play wasn’t stopped because they had a man down.
Edwards was then sent off, but Pinchbeck wrapped up the points when Peterborough United work experience talent Shackleton rounded the keeper to score.
Pinchbeck: Swan, Gordon, A Murrell, Jack Smith, Sergeant, Tidswell, Wright, Edwards, Josh Smith (Buzas), Dunn (Shackleton), Maltby. Not used: Shipley.
Attendance: 50.
