Pinchbeck fall to St Neots in cup defeat
Pinchbeck United's wait for a first-ever win in the Emirates FA Cup goes on after losing 4-0 to St Neots Town at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field tonight.
Knights' first team coach Alfie Tate made plenty of headlines before the tie as the youngest-ever coach to take a charge of a side in the competition's near 150-year history.
Tate named new signings Zak Dunn, Matt Barber (both ex-Peterborough Northern Star players), Mario Neves (Santos) and former Skegness Town striker Will Britton in his starting XI against Step 4 opponents St Neots, of Southern League Division One Central.
But it was the Saints who threatened to stage an unholy goal riot against their Step 5 opponents as Jake Battersby was presented with three chances to score inside the first ten minutes.
The visitors did eventually go ahead through Adrian O'Hara's header from a corner which bounced off the underside of the crossbar and into the Pinchbeck net.
Minutes later, it was 2-0 when defender Tom Dickens was left unmarked to head in a Sam Gomarsall free kick.
Pinchbeck United against St Neots Town in the Emirates FA Cup at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field. Photo by Alexandra Gomes. (41827410)
Pinchbeck came under siege with wave after wave of attacks from the Saints, with striker Leon Lobjolt adding a third ten minutes from half time, finishing well from a tight angle after being set up by Battersby.
Knights' keeper Ben Martin was called upon to make a catalogue of important saves to keep the scoreline respectable, including a save from Battersby before half time.
Martin was on hand again early in the second half to deny Lobjolt after a mistake by Patrik Kacirek before the Saints' striker went close again with an 18-yard strike that came off the crossbar.
It took nearly an hour for the hosts to register their first shot on goal, a Ndreqim Krashiqi attempt from distance that was well over the bar.
On the hour-mark, Pinchbeck's disappointing night was completed when a Lobjolt header from a corner was turned into his own net by Knights' captain Sam Worthington.
After the match, Tate said: "St Neots are a well-drilled team, technically very good in every single position and they all understood their roles and responsibilities.
"We weren't at our best but St Neots are at Step 4 for a reason and that showed tonight.
"It was a case of two different levels of quality."
PINCHBECK UNITED: Martin, Cottingham (sub Abayomi), Worthington, Eyes, Kacirek; Dunn, Neves; Daws (sub Kingston), Krashiqi, Barber, Britton (sub Onyon). Subs not used: Ashall, Sebtane, Shores.