RAUNDS TOWN 2
PINCHBECK UNITED 4
Edgaras Buzas was both hero and villain for Pinchbeck United on Tuesday night.
The attacker, signed from Wisbech Town last week, notched twice as the Knights picked up an impressive 4-2 victory over ChromaSport UCL Division One rivals Raunds Town in the KO Cup.
But, having played 70 minutes for the Fenmen in a 3-1 loss to Potton United in the previous round, Buzas’ involvement is almost certain to see Pinchbeck kicked out of the competition.
Player/boss Ian Dunn accepted that he and fellow senior figures at the club were all responsible for the gaffe, admitting that nobody had thought to check and see if Buzas was cup tied.
“It’s just one of those things,” said the rueful player/boss. “We’re all responsible for this mistake.
“We’re not the first team to make this kind of error and won’t be the last.
“Obviously a lot of the lads are disappointed. It’s a long way for us to travel for what was essentially a training match.
“I don’t know for sure, but I imagine we’ll be kicked out. We’ll just have to take whatever the league decides on the chin, won’t we?
“It’s a shame for the lads as we did well with a lot of players out.
“To be fair, both sides were missing six or seven players.
“I think we were good value for the win, their goals came from a penalty and a mistake from (keeper) Ben Martin.
“But that’s academic really. All we can do now is focus on the league and Lincs Cup.
“The only real positive we can take is that we travelled a long way midweek and produced a strong performance.”
Buzas rifled Pinchbeck ahead with a long-range stunner on ten minutes.
Chris Shipley then headed home Tyler Wright’s corner for 2-0 on 14 minutes, before Corey Kingston looked to have put the game to bed with number three ten minutes before the break.
Raunds replied with a penalty, then robbed keeper Martin to make it 3-2 before Buzas rounded off the win ten minutes from time. However, it remains to be seen if Pinchbeck can even refer to the match as a victory, with expulsion likely.
The fourth-placed Knights visit Lutterworth Athletic in the league this Saturday (3pm).
Pinchbeck: Martin, B Murrell, Brooks, Jack Smith, Gardner, Shipley, Wright, Josh Smith, Buzas, Maltby, Kingston. Subs: Kisla, Ramos, Dunn, Robinson.
