Holbeach United 0
Pinchbeck United 0
Depleted Holbeach United battled to a 0-0 draw against South Holland rivals Pinchbeck United in a derby that both camps admitted was a drab affair.
The Tigers were without almost an entire first team for the Uhlsport UCL Premier Division North derby at Carter’s Park on Saturday, with club legend and assistant manager Dean Elston – now in his his early 50s – forced to play 90 minutes.
While Holbeach chief Phil Barnes was happy with a point, Pinchbeck chief Lewis Thorogood admitted his side missed a chance to grab a derby victory.
Barnes said: “Given the amount of players we had missing, I’d have taken 0-0 before the game.
“It was a dreadful game if I’m honest and we’re happy to move on from it.
“Credit to everyone who played, we had youngsters stepping up and then Dean playing in his 50s!
“Credit to Dean and Luke Wilson, their experience in central defence was key and they helped see us through.
“Pinchbeck would have seen this as a chance to beat us, so we’ve dodged that too.”
Knights chief Thorogood agreed the game wasn’t much of spectacle and praised Holbeach’s showing – but felt his side missed a chance to take all three points against a rival.
“If, before a ball was kicked this season – or any season – you’d offered me a clean sheet and a point at Holbeach, I’d have snapped your hand off.
“But I can’t help but be disappointed, as I feel we had an opportunity to win the game.
“What I would like to do is give full credit to Holbeach, though.
“With the players they had missing and the team they put out, they clearly made a choice to be hard to beat.
“We looked comfortable at the back and had most of the ball, but they defended well and made us work hard for everything.
“It wasn’t a game for the neutral, or anybody for that matter, but I’ll look to the positives – it’s two games unbeaten for us and a draw on the road at a rival.”
Holbeach: Waters, Carter, Balding, Richardson, Elston, Wilson, Horne (Bell), Wirkowski, Britton (Cook), Compton, Coote (Finlay). Not used: Carver.
Pinchbeck: Smith, Worthington, Stevens (Hebblethwaite), Baldock-Smith, Fixter, Spafford, Peasgood (Opayinka), Johnson, Gagyi, Havard (Holland), Armond. Not used: Taylor.
Attendance: 162.
