Pinchbeck United 0
ICA Sports 0
(ICA win 9-8 on penalties)
Underdogs Peterborough ICA Sports held their nerve to deny Pinchbeck United a second cup success in four days as they lifted the PFA Senior Cup on Monday night.
After a goalless 90 minutes at Peterborough United’s ABAX Stadium, ICA prevailed 9-8 on penalties as keeper Adam Mills bagged the decisive spot-kick.
After 16 successful spot-kicks from both sides, left back Luke Gardner was the unfortunate man to miss for Pinchbeck, sending his effort well off target and setting the stage for Mills to fire Sports to glory.
Having lifted the President Premier Shield on Friday and having finished second in the ChromaSport PDFL Premier Division – some 28 points ahead of ICA in sixth – Ian Dunn’s side were considered heavy favourites to finish a fine season in style.
But the player/boss accepted that Sports, who created the better chances on the night, deserved their moment.
“That’s the first final we’ve lost out of the four I’ve been involved in here,” bemoaned Dunn. “It’s tough to take.
“We can look back on what has been a successful season, but we just didn’t get going unfortunately.
“We weren’t at the races in the first half. We weren’t on form and seemed to misplace a lot of passes, meaning we created very little.
“But, to be fair, we were lucky and hung in there. I felt we started to grow into it in the second half and they started to tire.
“I just thought we might pinch it as we started to create openings late in the game. Ollie (Maltby) had a couple of good chances and Tyler (Wright) volleyed one right at the keeper’s face.
“We gave it everything but – and this isn’t excuse – I thought we looked tired. I think it was one game too far for us really.
“We hung in there and almost nicked it, but fair play to ICA. They came and turned up for the game and played really well.
“They created a lot of chances and probably edged it on the day, so all we can do is congratulate them.”
The first half was much harder than perhaps Pinchbeck might have expected, with ICA created much the better of the chances.
Andrew Wayte raced through on the left and screwed a decent chance wide of the far post, before then being denied by an offside flag from a similar attack.
Ollie Maltby sent a header wide and Tyler Wright saw a fierce drive deflected over as Pinchbeck came back into it, but they struggled to fashion a clear opening.
ICA had no such trouble and were inspired by Josh Smith on the right flank. He weaved past Luke Gardner and tested Ben Martin at the near post from one of many exciting runs.
The closest the Knights came was a looping drive from Tony Edwards, which was tipped over by a sprawling Mills.
Moments later, the lively Smith rattled the woodwork for the Peterborough side. He ghosted past the Pinchbeck defence and curled an effort towards the far corner, but saw it come back off the post with Martin beaten.
Harley Williams then saw a looping free-kick ripple the roof of the net as ICA continued to pile on the pressure, while the fingertips of Martin somehow turned a goal-bound Simon Farrow cross past the post.
Liam Ogden – the match-winner in Friday’s President Premier Shield final – lashed a 22-yard drive over as Pinchbeck began to settle late in the half, but they were almost rocked by a goal in stoppage time.
Thomas Curtis sent a lovely cross into the box for the on-rushing Williams, but he somehow headed over from six yards.
It was much more even in the second half, with both sides creating clear-cut chances.
Josh Smith really should have volleyed ICA ahead early in the second period, but he blasted a Williams cross well over at the back post.
Maltby then thought he’d found a yard of space in the Peterborough box, but Farrow expertly blocked his goal-bound effort.
The longer the game went on, you began to feel that Pinchbeck would pinch it. They slowly became a force in the final 15 minutes and were unlucky not to go ahead when Wright’s fierce volley was kept out by the face of keeper Mills.
Moments later Maltby nodded a cross straight at Mills from close range, before then glancing a Brad Murrell delivery wide of the far post.
A short corner routine then saw space open up for Wright, but his powerful drive was once again straight down the throat of a relieved Mills.
With nothing coming from the Knights’ late flurry, the clash went to penalties.
The shoot-out showcased some high-class strikes, with Edwards, Tom Sergeant, Murrell, Ogden, Maltby, Wright, Nick Bishop and Dunn all netting for Pinchbeck all scoring for Pinchbeck before Gardner’s unfortunate miss.
Keeper Mills held his nerve to slam home the decisive spot-kick for ICA as they celebrated a memorable cup success at the expense of the Knights, who can still be very proud of their efforts over the season.
Pinchbeck: Martin, Murrell, Gardner, Gordan (Sergeant 46), Smith (Dunn 46), Brooks, Edwards, Bishop, Maltby, Wright, Ogden. Not used: Lawe, Eyes, Ramos.
MOTM: Tom Brooks.
