Thorogood eyes a reaction as Pinchbeck United bid to bounce back in UCL Knockout Cup

Boss Lewis Thorogood is demanding a response from his Pinchbeck United side ahead of Saturday’s UCL League Cup clash with Premier Division South high-fliers Coventry Sphinx.

The Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field clash (3pm) is a Preliminary Round fixture in the domestic cup competition and a chance for the Knights to bounce back from their 4-1 defeat on Saturday (see page 28).

But Thorogood admits that the competition is the least attractive for teams within the Uhlsport United Counties League and that he may make a few changes to the team.

“We want to progress in every cup competition if we can,” said Thorogood. “But the League Cup is perhaps the least appealing for any club in this league.

“There are no financial incentives to progress and you have to share gate receipts. We’ll give it a good go, don’t get me wrong. Coventry Sphinx are an unknown quantity for us and perhaps we’ll look to make one or two changes.

“I think it’s only fair to give a few of the lads who haven’t had as much game time as they’d like a chance to impress.

“Our priority is the league and we’ve got a big game with Selston the following weekend that we’ll have more than half an eye on. But what I do want to see is a response from the lads following last weekend’s defeat to Newark and Sherwood.

“That was a poor performance and I don’t want to see that kind of showing again.”

Pinchbeck should have Neal Spafford available after he was forced off with a jarred knee last weekend, but may not risk him.

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