A long-awaited clean sheet helped Pinchbeck secure all the points in their battle to stay clear of the drop zone in Premier Division North of the United Counties League with a 2-0 victory over AFC Mansfield.
Despite having to draft in second-choice goalkeeper Charlie Wilkinson for his debut, the Knights held firm to secure a first league shut-out since September.
Manager Lewis Thorogood was delighted with the maximum point haul and said: “It was a good one to win. Mansfield were four points behind us and if they’d won it would have dragged us into the relegation battle.
“It was great to keep a clean sheet, especially not having our regular goalkeeper Alex Smith available. Charlie came in and played well. He’s been playing at Leeds University and a few games for our reserves but did well in what was probably one of our biggest games of the season.”
Avi Vieira put the hosts ahead just before half-time and Andre Williams made the points safe to secure a double over their visitors, having won 2-0 in Nottinghamshire early in the season.
“It was a scrappy game but we took our chances and it gives us confidence,” said Thorogood.
“Mathematically we’re not safe and we’ve got two tough games coming up against the top two but there’s won’t be as much pressure on us. Anything we get from those will be a bonus before we face two more teams either side of us in the table — Eastwood and Leicester Nirvana. We have to pick our battles.”
Gibraltar international Han Stevens made his debut as substitute. He is a member of the Boston United youth system and has also played for Sleaford Town, West Bridgford and Bourne Town.
Knights: Wilkinson, Jaine, Millar, Dilley, Sheriff, Worthington, Spafford, Melson, Williams, Vieira, Foster. Subs: Henderson, Johnson, H Stevens, N Stevens.
Attendance: 30.
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