Pinchbeck United 4
Holbeach United 1
It was another momentous day for Pinchbeck United on Saturday as they beat neighbours Holbeach United 4-1 to claim their first-ever victory in the FA Vase.
Striker Avi Vieira gave Pinchbeck an early lead at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, only for young hitman Fenn Storey to hit back almost immediately for the Tigers.
That was as good as it got for Holbeach, though, with Ben Johnson putting the Knights back ahead before the break.
It was mostly one-way traffic in the second half and Harry Peasgood headed home a third for Lewis Thorogood’s Knights, before Spencer Weir-Daley rounded off the rout.
Having won their first Emirates FA Cup game earlier in the season, the Vase victory is the latest slice of history to be made by Pinchbeck – who also celebrated their first win over Holbeach since becoming a Step Five side.
“It’s always nice to break new ground,” said Thorogood. “Getting that first FA Vase win and also beating Holbeach for the first time since we became a UCL club is big for us.
“As for the game, I thought we probably should have been 3-0 up inside ten minutes.
“They fought back, to their credit, but I think it was fairly comfortable for us in the end.
“From our point of view, their goal was sloppy. But we reacted well and it’s always nice to win against a local rival.
“It was a bit of a banana skin for us if I’m honest, so I’m glad we’ve managed to negotiate our way through and set up another derby in the next round against Deeping.
“Good luck to Holbeach for the rest of the season.”
For Holbeach, it was very much a tale of two halves as their strong showing in the first half was overshadowed by a disappointing second half display.
Co-boss Danny Clifton didn’t think there was much between the sides in the opening exchanges, but conceded his team were well beaten in the end.
Clifton said: “For the first 45 minutes I don’t think you’d have been able to tell who was at Step Five and who was at Step Six.
“I was very happy with the performance at that point.
“But the second half was the complete opposite and was very, very disappointing. It was like chalk and cheese from us.
“The last two goals we conceded were scored from about a yard out following crosses – that just can’t happen.
“We’ve got stuff to address really, you can’t be conceding goals like that.
“I’ve heard some chat that we deserved better than losing 4-1 on the day.
“To be honest, I don’t agree with that. The scoreline was fair and Pinchbeck were the better team, credit to them.
“I don’t remember them having too many chances other than the goals, but they took them when they arrived and defended well.
“It’s a shame, but the FA Vase is over for us now and we have to focus on getting better in the league.”
Pinchbeck’s prize is a home tie against Deeping Rangers next month.
Knights: Smith, Stevens, Millar, Spafford, Melson (Burdass 72), Worthington, Williams (Perry-Burdett), Peasgood, Vieira (Weir-Daley 63), Johnson, Foster. Subs (not used): Wilkinson, Hardstaff.
Tigers: Blake, Nicholson, Robertson (Calvert 65), Johnson, Henderson (Gilbert 38), Carter (Haime 67), Wirkowski, Millinson, Yambasu, Compton, Storey. Subs (not used): Warrington, Drury.
Attendance: 117.
