Pinchbeck United lose to Stapleford Town in the United Counties League

A difficult and challenging month ended in a fourth successive United Counties League defeat for Pinchbeck United on Saturday.

The Knights went down to a 3-0 away reversal in their Division One fixture at fourth-placed Stapleford Town.

The defeat means Pinchbeck have dropped down to 15th place in the table after other league losses against South Normanton, Clipstone and Dunkirk in their previous three outings before Saturday.

Manager Lewis Thorogood said: "It's been a difficult and challenging month with little reward.

"We've had a combination of everything conspiring against us in terms of availability and injury and key players getting knocks when you least need it.

"There has also been a combination of not performing well enough and it's as simple as that but that's what you get when you've got a side of young footballers.

"You'll get the good, the bad and the ugly and, at the minute, we're acting out the ugly and the bad."

Pinchbeck's misfortune showed no signs of abating in the opening half of Saturday's match in Nottinghamshire.

They had brought Connor Eyes back to the club but his first start was curtailed in the opening period when he was forced off due to illness.

A fortuitous penalty converted by Jack Upton had already given the hosts a 12th minute lead which was doubled shortly after by a sweet strike from Cian Lyon.

Josh Bodibe had Pinchbeck's best chance of the game but he was unable to get his shot away and the home side added a third goal just after the hour mark through Keiran Walker.

Thorogood added: "We played some half-decent football in the middle third but didn't have that many chances and Stapleford are a good side.

"They've got a great set-up and they look like a side that could be challenging up there come the end of the season.

"We just weren't strong enough so we've got to get back around the table, look at where we are squad wise and see what we need to do to be better with the personnel which we've got."

Pinchbeck's next league match is a home game against Gedling Miners Welfare on Saturday.