Pinchbeck United are beaten by Framlingham in the Thurlow Nunn League

A three-match winning run came to a disappointing end after Pinchbeck United were hit for six on Saturday.

Visiting Framlingham fired in a first half brace before netting a further four times in the second period of the Thurlow Nunn League Division One North clash.

A penalty from Flynn Slater proved little more than a consolation for Pinchbeck who had gone into the match after a hat-trick of wins over FC Peterborough, Dussindale & Hellesdon and Heacham.

However, they were unable to build on the winning run after a performance that manager Lewis Thorogood felt was their worst of the season.

He said: "You can't decry from what Framlingham did because they did it very well.

"They played good, simple football very well and were very effective. We were very poor and sloppy.

"We looked lethargic with no tempo to the game and, to be truthful, we were very much deserving of the result which we got.

"There is no other way of dressing it up because it was our worst performance of the season."

Just three points had separated the two teams going into Saturday's clash at the Sir Halley Stewart ground.

An even opening had seen JJ Ward cause some early problems for the Castlemen's defence as he fired a shot wide after his pressing had helped win possession.

However, Pinchbeck contributed to their own downfall in the 12th minute when Framlingham hit the front.

They tried to play their way out of trouble at the back instead of just clearing their lines as Max Willett took full advantage for the first of his three close range finishes.

The visitors came close to doubling their lead shortly after as Archie Exworth struck the post with a low shot with Niki Shopov's follow-up rattling the home crossbar.

Shopov then had an appeal for a penalty turned down after being allowed too much time and space to surge forward down the left while home goalkeeper Ben Martin produced a fine save to tip away Josh Lucraft's goalbound free-kick.

Nathan Stevens fired a decent opening straight at Framlingham goalkeeper Joe Potter before the visitors doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time.

Set piece specialist Lucraft swung over a free-kick and Tom Kerridge rose highest to head home Framlingham's second goal.

Pinchbeck could have grabbed a lifeline in first half injury time when Ward raced clear of the visiting defence but Potter produced a superb save to turn his shot onto the crossbar and to safety.

It was to prove a vital save as Framlingham found themselves three goals clear just five minutes into the second half.

Ethan Whittingstall's low cross was turned away by Martin but only as far as Willett who scrambled home his second goal of the game.

Framlingham's top scorer then completed his hat-trick shortly after when he was again in the right place at the right time to convert from close in after Exworth's initial effort had been blocked.

Pinchbeck responded with a triple substitution and cut the deficit just past the hour mark when Slater was brought down after a strong run into the box and he picked himself up to convert the resultant spot kick.

However, any hopes of an epic comeback from the Knights were ended with 13 minutes remaining as Kerridge's flick on from a long clearance sent substitute Harry Brown clear and he slotted his finish past Martin.

The home goalkeeper then produced an excellent save to keep out an effort from Kerridge following a smart turn and shot.

Framlingham then completed the scoring in injury-time as Kerridge again sent Brown clear and he rounded Martin before tapping home to send Pinchbeck to their biggest league loss of the season.

Boss Thorogood added: "I felt that we froze because we came up against a team that wanted to move the ball decisively and positively.

"I didn't think we were positive in our game play and, although the errors at the back were poor, it was reflective of how we were as a collective group.

"There are genuinely no positives that I can take out of that performance."

Pinchbeck are back in action on Wednesday night when they travel to face FC Parson Drove.