Pinchbeck United 1 Melton Town 4
Four second-half strikes from Melton Town shot down Pinchbeck United’s four-game unbeaten run in the Uhlsport UCL Premier DIvision North on Saturday.
The Knights were handed a 4-1 reverse by rivals Melton at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field – their first league defeat since August 24.
All started well for Lewis Thorogood’s side in the heavy rain, with Krisztian Gagyi’s early free kick giving them a 1-0 half-time lead.
However, Zak Munton levelled with a rebound after Alex Smith had saved his initial penalty (53), then Paul Anderson (63) fired Melton ahead for the first time.
Further strikes from Leon Fray (72) and Ryan Robbins (85) completed Pinchbeck’ misery, with Thorogood offering no excuses.
“I won’t use the weather as an excuse,” said the Knights boss. “It wasn’t ideal, but it’s the same for both sides.
“To be honest, I thought we were in control of the game at half time. We scored a great early free-kick and could have scored again, really.
“To Melton’s credit, though, they stuck to a certain way of playing all day – while we seemed to look a beaten side when they went 2-1 ahead.
“I went from feeling very comfortable at half time to thinking there was no way back midway through the second half.
“Alex Smith made a great penalty save at 1-0, but they got that luck from the rebound and things went downhill from there.
“Melton did a decent job on the day and they’ll do that to a few teams this season.
“They’ve got the likes of Ryan Robbins and Spencer Weir-Daley in the team, so they’re certainly dangerous opposition.
“While we’d not lost in four games, I’m under no illusions that we’re a young side that is still learning. These kind of defeats will happen from time to time.”
Knights: Smith, Gagyi, Worthington, Baldock-Smith, Spafford, Robson, Melson (Machin), Peasgood, Havard (Stevens), Hebblethwaite (Knight), Opayinka. Not used: Taylor.
Attendance: 38.
