Gorleston 1
Pinchbeck United 0
Pinchbeck United’s search for a first-ever Emirates FA Cup victory will drag into next season after Gorleston edged a tight tussle 1-0 on Saturday.
A second-half strike from Aaron Sanders denied the Knights what would have been a winnable extra preliminary round replay on day when chances were at a premium.
Player/boss Ian Dunn admitted that the better side won on the day and felt that his charges missed the threat of top scorer Ollie Maltby.
But he was pleased to see how competitive his youthful Knights were and refused to be too downbeat.
Dunn said: “I’ve got no arguments with the scoreline, I can’t honestly say that they weren’t the better side.
“They are a good side and they played some good football, but I never felt like we were out of the game.
“It took a mistake in midfield for them to break through and get the goal, which was frustrating.
“It looked for all the world like the game was heading for a 0-0 and a replay, which would have suited us down to the ground.
“I think we missed the goal threat that Ollie Maltby provides and obviously Nick Jackson’s know-how in defence. But we just have to take this one on the chin and accept that we weren’t quite good enough.”
There was little to split the sides on the opening exchanges, with the hosts sending the first chance of the day well over Ricky Lovelace’s bar.
Gorleston then thought they’d gone ahead on 22 minutes, but the offside flag spared Pinchbeck’s blushes.
The Knights’ first presentable opening went the way of Jamie Gaukroger, but the midfielder lashed over when well placed.
At the other end Lovelace was forced into action to tip a free-kick away, before Gaukroger forced the home stopper into a save of his own minutes later.
With the half coming to a close it was Pinchbeck who thought that they’d moved into the lead, but Patryk Kacirek saw his goal ruled out too.
The second half started in a scrappy fashion, with both sides involved in a scuffle and chances at a premium.
However, Gorleston managed to break the deadlock on 68 minutes when Sanders found the net.
The Knights made changes, but failed to create anything of note in the final 20 minutes as they fell at the first FA Cup hurdle for the second time in as many seasons.
Knights: Lovelace, Gordon, Eyes, Newman, Forth, Worthington, Gaukroger (Dunn 70), Bishop, Kacirek, J Nuttell (Fisher 76), Bates (Dementer 46). Not used: W Nuttell, Ross.
