Pinchbeck United 1 Cogenhoe United 2
A hard-working Pinchbeck United performance failed to yield any points as Cogenhoe United came from behind to win 2-1 at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field on Saturday.
All looked to be going to plan for the Knights when Pat Kacirek fired them into a 22nd-minute lead with a low finish into the near corner of the net.
But Cogenhoe, who came into the clash just two places above Uhlsport UCL Premier Division basement boys Pinchbeck, responded well and duly levelled when Ceepy Logongo’s low drive from distance took a slight deflection off Ian Dunn and found the corner.
They then sealed the victory when Nathanial Ansu benefitted from lost possession in midfield and an unfortunate ricochet at the back to lash home clinically on the hour.
Despite seeing his side suffer a 22nd league loss of the season and fail to break their run of not picking up a three-point haul since August, player/boss Dunn did take some positives.
He was happy with the effort his players put in and felt that, with a little more luck, they could have claimed an all-too-rare victory.
Dunn said: “I think that, if certain things had gone our way, we could have nicked all three points.
“I’ve told that lads that all I ask of them is that they give me everything during the game. I don’t go away happy when we lose, but I’m at least content knowing that they’ve given me all that they’ve got in terms of effort and application.
“And, to be fair to them, they did that. All they didn’t do – and this has cost us many times this season – is manage the game very well.
“That cost us again today as, at times when we needed to move the ball on quicker, we tried to take an extra touch on the ball.
“If you do that in the wrong areas at this level, you’ll get punished. Their second goal came from us overplaying the ball.
“There is also that element of luck that we’re just not getting. And it had to involve me, didn’t it! I was involved with both of their goals.
“I tried to get a block on the first one and a deflection took it away from Ross Woolley. Then, for the second, Dan Worthington tried to clear the ball and it just hit me and fell for them.
“I feel like I add experience at the back, but I can’t hide from being involved in both of their goals.
“In truth, their lad had too much time for the first goal and we gave the ball away and became stretched for the second one.
“We just had no luck. At the end I had a shot and their defender deflected it just wide; while the deflection at the other end took the ball in.
“They are the fine margins that are costing us, but it feels like we’ve been talking about that all season. We don’t seem to get any luck, even today when the lads deserved something from the game for what they’ve put in.
“I felt like we gave everything but came away with nothing – and you start wondering about what you have to do to get something from a game of football this season.
“But I also think that we didn’t realise just how weak they are at the back until the closing stages.
“I know you make your own luck, but I feel like we should have got something.”
After a nip and tuck opening few minutes, it was Pinchbeck who had the first big opportunity when Dunn – playing at centre back again – saw his goal-bound header from a corner cleared off the line.
Cogenhoe immediately broke following that close call and Jordan Orosz found himself clean through down the right, only for Ross Woolley to deflect the ball past his far post with an outstretched leg.
The visitors then had a big appeal for a penalty turned down when Michael Cirelli was booked for diving, before the Knights went up the other end and grabbed the lead.
After a decent break down the right the ball finally fell to left wing back Kacirek, who took a touch and sent a right-footed effort low into the corner.
The Cooks responded well to falling behind, however, and were within a whisker of levelling when Ansu cut in from the left and fired just over Woolley’s goal.
There was to be no reprieve just past the half-hour, though, with Logongo afforded way too much space before launching a low strike into the far bottom corner from just outside the box, albeit via a slight deflection.
The Knights were then thankful for a smart near-post save from the excellent Woolley to deny Will Bates at the back post just before the break.
After the interval Corey Kingston fired over on his weaker side after being played through and Ewan Fieldhouse sliced a presentable chance tamely wide as Pinchbeck began to carry more of a threat.
But it was the away side who grabbed the third goal of the match after Adam Richardson lost possession in midfield. A clearance from Dan Worthington then came off Dunn and fell nicely for Ansu, who finished with aplomb.
Jamie Gaukroger sent a free-kick just wide, Kingston nodded a presentable chance over and Dunn saw a last-gasp strike deflected just wide as Pinchbeck tried to find the leveller their efforts deserved, but to no avail.
Knights: Woolley, Worthington, Kacirek, Eyes, Gilbert, Dunn, Gaukroger, Krashiqi, Fieldhouse (Bayly 73), Richardson, Kingston. Not used: Shores, Burton.
