Pinchbeck United suffer heavy home defeat to Loughborough Students in the United Counties League Premier Division North

Pinchbeck United boss Lewis Thorogood insists his side are determined to prove people wrong after the Knights suffered an 11-goal home defeat on Saturday.

They were beaten by Loughborough Students in the United Counties League Premier Division North clash at the Sir Halley Stewart ground.

The heavy defeat leaves the Knights second-from-bottom in the table with Thorogood steadfast in his belief that Pinchbeck will retain their step five status for another season.

He said: "The result was unacceptable and the manner of the score makes it there for criticism and to be shot at, but it has happened and we can't change it now.

"We won't hide away from it and we need to address it. We will watch the game back and look at both individual and collective roles and responsibility on the pitch.

"We need to identify how we can put it right, stick by each other, and the challenge is to prove people wrong.

"That is important for us and we are determined to do that. It is something that always drives us on. We are determined to keep improving and moving forward.

"We are determined to secure our place in this division for next season despite people already writing us off this early in the season. We will prove people wrong no matter how hard we have to work and what we have to do."

The defeat came off the back of a five-goal win at Hucknall Town last weekend and an encouraging performance in midweek as the Knights lost on penalties in the League Cup against Lincoln United.

They had chances in the opening exchanges on Saturday as Andre Williams was twice thwarted in one-on-ones before grazing the crossbar with a free-kick.

Pinchbeck then fell behind to James Thew's 14th minute opener before the Students scored four times in the final stages of the first period through Ethan O'Toole, Joshua Strouts (two) and Jonty Bouch.

Bouch netted again after the break as the floodgates opened with Josh Wicks, Piers Fautley, Connor Keene (two) and Halim Bangura completing the rout.

Thorogood added: "We had a great result at Hucknall and put in a workmanlike performance against Lincoln United.

"Our work-rate, desire and willingness to keep going was there and, off the back of that, you think we're turning a corner.

"We're going to have bad weeks and we're not suddenly going to go unbeaten for the whole month but we looked to be heading in the right direction and something had clicked.

"Saturday was poor though across the board. The most disappointing thing was the lack of desire and heart which just wasn't there.

"You do think how can you in two performances of an exemplary standard and then deliver that."

Pinchbeck are at home on Saturday to Melton Town.