Confident Pinchbeck United player/boss Ian Dunn reckons that his side are just five wins away from sealing the ChromaSport UCL Division One title.
The Knights moved ten points clear of nearest rivals Raunds Town on Saturday after their 4-0 victory over Melton Town – and they have two games in hand on them.
With just ten games left, Pinchbeck need 19 points to be sure of lifting the title.
But Dunn, who now sees eighth-placed Harrowby United as their main rivals for the title, thinks five wins will do the job.
He said: “Obviously we’re not counting our chickens just yet. But we’d like to get the title won as quickly as we possibly can.
“If you look at things, we’d probably have to lose four on the spin and one of the chasing pack would need to win four. That would put the pressure on and isn’t out of the question.
“But I think we’ve proved that we’re consistent enough for that not to happen.
“I think that, realistically, five wins from our last ten games secures the title.”
This Saturday sees one of Pinchbeck’s hardest remaining fixtures in the shape of a trip to fifth-placed Rushden and Higham United (3pm).
Dunn knows that Rushden are capable of getting positive results against the league’s top sides, but feels that his side thrive on trips to their chief rivals – as highlighted by wins at Raunds, Olney Town, Blackstones and Potton United this season.
“It’s fair to call it one of our tougher games,” admitted Dunn. “They’ve taken points off the other leading sides.
“But there’s a reason why we’re top. We’ve been to the other top sides and won well, it’s something that we’ve been very good at.
“That’s what we’ll be looking to do again this Saturday.”
Long-term injury absentee Luke Gardner is on the mend and was scheduled to play in a friendly for the Knights this week before it was postponed. Saturday’s game may come too soon for him, but he should return inside the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, midfielder Edgaras Buzas has joined ChromaSport PDFL Division Two side FC Parson Drove on loan in a bid to regain his match fitness.
