Proud player/boss Ian Dunn heaped praise on his Pinchbeck United side after seeing them defeat title rivals Netherton United 2-1 on Saturday.
Ollie Maltby’s 50th goal of the season on ten minutes, from a penalty which he won and converted on ten minutes, gave The Knights a 1-0 lead at half-time in the ChromaSport PDFL Premier Division clash.
That’s how it stayed up until the 78th minute, when Adam Scott looked to have earned Netherton a share of the spoils with a well-hit equaliser.
However, Liam Ogden went up the other end and notched the winner 60 seconds later to keep Pinchbeck on course for the title.
Still four points behind Peterborough Sports Reserves, who they still have to visit later this season, Dunn feels his side still have things in their own hands.
That’s because Sports still have to play third-placed Moulton Harrox and fourth-placed Netherton before the exciting title race culminates.
“I thought we were phenomenal,” enthused Dunn. “We had a game plan that we worked on in training and further emphasised before the game.
“We wanted to let them have a lot of the ball and hit them on the break. We set out to frustrate them and it worked perfectly.
“For a team at our level to apply that plan so effectively after just one session is truly outstanding.
“We knew they’d turn up and do what they do, so felt it was important we did something a bit different. The lads communicated really well and everything went to plan.
“They had lots of the ball, but that was expected. I’m over the moon with how we played.
“It’s hard to say for sure, but that makes it very hard for Netherton to win the league now.
“It’s an interesting title race really. We only have one of the top four to play in Peterborough Sports Reserves, but they have to play all three.
“The way I see it, the title is still in our hands if we can beat Peterborough Sports. That’s not discounting any of the other sides in the league, but we’ve only lost once in the league all season – and that was the home game against Sports.
“We may yet drop more points, but if we stay switched on I feel like we’re still in control of our own destiny.”
Pinchbeck face one of their tougher remaining fixtures this Saturday, with fifth-placed ICA Sports the visitors to Knight Street (2pm).
Dunn is hoping to hold talks with strikers Tom Randall (Netherton) and Will Bird (Ketton) this week after making approaches for them last week.
Pinchbeck: Martin, Gordan, Gardner, Brooks, Lawe, Bishop, Shipley, Wright, Ogden, Panton, Maltby. Subs used Dunn. Not used: Eyes, B Murrell.
Attendance: 52.
