Pinchbeck Utd 1
Holbeach Utd 5
Five-star Holbeach United thrashed South Holland neighbours Pinchbeck United 5-1 in the FA Vase after a sensational second-half showing on Friday night.
After a goalless first period that saw Corey Kingston miss two glorious chances for the Knights at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, the Tigers ruthlessly put their rivals to the sword with a clinical display of finishing.
Mitch Griffiths opened the scoring with a low left-footed finish on 56 minutes, before George Zuerner headed a second (76) from a Will Bird cross.
That opened the floodgates, with Joe Braithwaite volleying home number three (80), Charley Sanders arrowing home a fourth (84) and sub Jordan Keeble tucking home the fifth (89).
Chris Shipley did head a last-gasp consolation for Pinchbeck in their first-ever game in the Vase, but they were taught something of a lesson by their higher-graded opponents.
Holbeach, playing their third game in seven days, handed a debut to right back Ollie Medwynter.
But it was Pinchbeck who created the first genuine opening from their maiden attack, with Ricky Drury superbly keeping out Tyler Wright’s low effort. Nick Jackson then produced a heroic block to keep out Kingston’s rebound, with a goal looking certain.
Jackson soon went close at the other end, nodding a Griffiths long throw just over the bar from just inside the box.
Holbeach created another headed chance when Matt Warfield’s free-kick found Spencer Tinkler unmarked at the back post, but he directed his effort over.
The chances continued to flow at either end, with Pinchbeck opening up their visitors twice in quick succession.
First, Kingston was released by Wright and saw his angled effort saved by Drury. Perhaps a square pass would have been the better option, with Liam Ogden free for what would have been a tap in.
That man Kingston then had an even better opportunity, showing great strength to shrug off his man and race clean through. However, the striker sliced his effort wide of the near post.
Ollie Maltby was next to miss a presentable chance for the Knights, lashing a half-volley over from 12 yards following a great Ogden switch.
That was to be Pinchbeck’s last big chance, however. The closing stages of the first period saw the Tigers start to flext their muscles as Tinkler, always a threat from set-pieces, sent a spectacular volley just over following a Griffiths corner
Zuerner then had a sniff of a chance following a quick free-kick, but was unable to get the ball under control and Ricky Lovelace crowded him out.
Holbeach threw Sanders up top in the second half and immediately caused a problem, putting in a great cross that was just out of the reach of Bird – who would surely have scored.
The opener arrived ten minutes into the second period, with Zuerner’s excellent diagonal pass picking out Griffiths, who showed great pace and composure to fire low into the net on his weaker left foot.
Zuerner nearly doubled the lead when he raced free on the right-hand, but saw his powerful drive palmed away by Lovelace.
Pinchbeck were far from a beaten side, though, and almost levelled when Andrew Tidswell curled an effort towards the bottom corner. Drury was beaten, but Jackson expertly cleared off the line.
That proved to be a key intervention, with the Tigers doubling their lead 14 minutes from time. Bird crossed superbly from the left for Zuerner to head home clinically at the back post and effectively kill off the Knights.
It then started getting messy for Pinchbeck. Joe Braithwaite volleyed home number three from close range after a looping Warfield delivery, before Sanders swept home a fourth with a precise low finish.
There was still time for sub Keeble to send a classy low finish into the corner in the final minute, making it a five-star night for the Tigers.
Shipley did nod an injury time consolation from a Tidswell cross, but it mattered little.
Pinchbeck will rue their missed first-half chances, but Holbeach’s UCL Premier Division quality shone through in the end and they were worthy winners.
Pinchbeck: Lovelace, Gordon (Eyes 68), Gardner (Gibson 87), Withers, Shipley, Tidswell, Bishop (Dunn 75), Wright, Ogden, Kingston, Maltby. Not used: Robinson.
Holbeach: Drury, Medwynter (Harker 65), Jackson, Braithwaite, Sanders, Tinkler, Warfield, Griffiths, Dougill (Davies 85), Zuerner (Keeble 82), Bird.
Attendance: 262.
