Pinchbeck United host Melton Town in the United Counties League Premier Division North
Pinchbeck United boss Lewis Thorogood is hoping his side will rise to the occasion when they host United Counties League leaders Melton Town on Saturday.
The Knights welcome the Premier Division North pacesetters to the Sir Halley Stewart for the third meeting of the clubs this term.
The two sides shared the spoils after a 2-2 draw in an FA Cup extra preliminary round tie with Pinchbeck then winning the replay 3-2.
They scored two goals late on with Avi Vieira grabbing a dramatic injury-time winner to earn the Knights their first-ever victory in the FA Cup.
Melton have since stormed to the top of the league standings with an impressive nine wins and a draw from their 11 league games.
Their only reversal in the league has come at the hands of Anstey Nomads and Thorogood is predicting a stern test for his side on Saturday.
He said: “It’s going to be a very difficult game because Melton are on a real rise at the moment.
“They are grinding out results, although we are one of the very few teams who have managed to get a win against them this season.
“They are going to come for redemption on Saturday and want to put the wrongs right.
“We have to make sure that we work on our confidence and belief in our ability between now and Saturday because, if it all clicks into place, then we’ll be ok.
“We won’t be phased by them and we always raise our game when we play the bigger and better teams.
“They are very difficult to beat in the league and have a superb squad, but we’ll do what we need to so we’re prepared and ready for the match.”
Pinchbeck go into the contest on the back of a three-match losing streak after league defeats to Kimberley and Wisbech were followed by a KO Cup reversal against Coventry Sphinx on Sunday.
However, the Knights are still in the FA Vase, Lincolnshire Senior Trophy and Hinchingbrooke Cup and have games in hand in the league to build on their current 16th place.
Thorogood added: “There’s plenty for us to look forward to because there’s a long league campaign, the FA Vase and we’re also in a couple of cup quarter-finals.
“It would be lovely for the club to get to a final as the season develops and goes on because it would be something to really look forward to.
“We do have a couple of bites of the cherry but it is three or four months away so we just have to focus on the bread and butter of the league and getting points on the board.
“We have only played nine league games this season so there’s a lot of football to be played and we just need to focus on that and then we can enjoy the cup games when they come along.”
