Pinchbeck United 3
Irchester United 1
Second-half screamers from Tyler Wright and Liam Ogden fired Pinchbeck United to a 3-1 victory over Irchester United on Saturday.
The Knights took an 18th-miniute leader when Laurence Taylor nodded Tony Edwards’ cross into his own net, but Ryan Lovell (39) levelled things up at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.
That’s how it stayed up until the 74th minute, with Wright smashing Pinchbeck back ahead, before turning provider for Ogden to acrobatically volley in number three (79).
The victory strengthens Pinchbeck’s grip on second place in ChromaSport UCL Division One – and they will go top should they defeat Oakham United on Wednesday night (7.45pm).
Player/boss Ian Dunn said: “It’s not always about putting in a great performance and being easy on the eye – it’s about making sure we get the three points.
“We now know that we can go top with a win at Oakham, when it’ll again be about making sure we get the points.
“I didn’t think we were particularly great in the first half. We asked a few questions and two or three nice bits of football caused them problems, but we didn’t do it enough in the right areas and the final ball wasn’t good enough.
“It took us ten or 15 minutes to get going in the second half, but once we did it was much better and we were winning a lot of second balls.
“Maybe I was getting a little worried on the bench, as we were always waiting for that chance to come our way.
“Thankfully, Tyler finished his chance well and then we got the third, which was a great finish by Liam.
“They had a lot of the ball at times, but I don’t think we let them do much with it.”
Pinchbeck handed a debut to keeper Dan Swan in goal, who joined from PDFL Premier Division side Ketton late in the week.
After an uneventful first 18 minutes of action at the Sir Halley, the hosts went ahead in fortuitous circumstances. Edwards’ cross from the left – aimed for Ollie Maltby – was looped into the net via the head of Irchester defender Taylor.
That goal brought the Knights to life, with Maltby glancing an Andrew Tidswell free-kick just over and then almost turning home Wright’s low cross at the back post.
Tom Gordon sliced a decent chance wide as Irchester improved in the latter stages of the first-half, before eventually finding a leveller. Ash Murrell’s mistake allowed Lovell to get in behind the home defence – and he expertly rounded Swan before finishing clinically.
They could have led 2-1 at the break, too, but Gordon snatched at a presentable opening and screwed his left-footed effort wide of the far post.
The second half was a largely even affair, with neither side seizing the initiative.
Pinchbeck enjoyed a good spell when Wright’s low free-kick was turned past the post and, from the resulting corner, Maltby saw a fierce drive tipped over.
Their breakthrough came 16 minutes from time, with a high ball into the box nodded down by Jack Smith and lashed his into the near top corner by Wright on his favoured left foot.
Wright played his part in the clinching goal a few minutes later, crossing superbly from the left for sub Ogden to launch a sensational flying volley into the corner.
Maltby had a chance to make it 4-1 when he latched onto a weak headed back pass, but his lobbed effort was blocked by the keeper.
Number two Allan Ross added: “I though Irchester always looked dangerous on the counter attack, but the lads were aware of that.
“Most weeks we’re talking about us missing a lot of chances, but that wasn’t the case here.
“I’m really, really pleased. We’ve been preparing correctly and we have to have a plan A, B and C – especially in games like today when the wind was up.
“That’s what is keeping us up there in the table. The lads are really reacting to us now.
“A month ago, I was a little worried with how things were going. But we’ve made a few changes and it’s looking good.
“Irchester aren’t a bad side – we can’t understand why they aren’t a bit higher up the league.”
Pinchbeck: Swan, Gordon, Gardner, Tidswell, Jack Smith, A Murrell, Edwards (Ogden 46), Sergeant, Maltby, Wright, Josh Smith (Buzas 82). Not used: Dunn, Kisla, Bishop.
Attendance: 51.
