LONG BUCKBY 0
PINCHBECK UTD 1
Ian Dunn toasted a job well done as Pinchbeck United moved up into second place in ChromaSport UCL Division One with a 1-0 victory at Long Buckby on Saturday.
The near-150 mile round trip is the longest the Knights will make in the league all season – and Ollie Maltby’s 18th-minute penalty ensured that is was a happy journey.
Maltby tucked away his 15th goal in 14 games this season after Tony Edwards, back with Pinchbeck after a spell with Blidworth, was pushed in the box.
Dunn, Maltby and Tom Sergeant all hit the woodwork as the Knights looked to extend their lead, but they finished the game with ten men after Tom Brooks was sent off for a late push.
Buckby also has Jordan Featherstone sent off in the same melee, but it failed to spoil Pinchbeck’s day.
Dunn said: “You’ll always take a 1-0 win at Long Buckby.
“In truth, we should have won by more – we hit the woodwork three times and their keeper was on form.
“Sometimes a 1-0 win is better, because you really have to work for it and to keep that clean sheet.
“I’d not say we played as well as we can, but we did what we had to do and dealt with them.
“It was important that we got the win to keep in touch at the top – and to move into second is great.
“I do think we’ve been lucky to play Long Buckby away in October – had it been a few months later their new manager would have had time to settle in.
“They will certainly take points off teams this season.
“The big moment was obviously the penalty.
“I didn’t see the incident if I’m honest, but the linesman, referee and assessor all saw the push and agreed it was the right decision.
“Ollie tucked the penalty away nicely and he has really found his feet at this level now.
“Obviously, it was a shame to lose Tom at the end. One of their players absolutely smashed Josh Smith into the hoarding and Tom reacted by shoving him.
“It was probably a red card, but he was only really defending his team-mate.”
Pinchbeck: Lovelace, Sergeant, Gardner, Brooks, A Murrell, Wright, Tidswell, J Smith, Edwards, Maltby, Dunn. Subs used: Bishop, Gordon. Not used: Not used: Robinson, Ross.
Attendance: 48.
