Pinchbeck United beat AFC Sudbury Reserves in the Thurlow Nunn League

Pinchbeck picked up their first victory of the Thurlow Nunn League campaign after winning at AFC Sudbury Reserves on Saturday.

Goals from Ben Howlett, Nathan Brettoner and 16-year-old Josh Panton secured a 3-1 away success for the Knights in the Division One North match.

It means Lewis Thorogood's side have now taken four points from their opening three games following relegation last season to step six of the non-league pyramid.

The Pinchbeck manager said: "It's nice to get that hoodoo off your back in terms of winning your first game of the season which is brilliant.

"Hopefully we can build on that because, in the grand scheme of things, we were the more dominant and physical side on Saturday over the whole game.

"There is some real spirit and endeavour in sides in this league so we've got to call on our experiences of the last couple of seasons and deliver them into matches this season.

"We are going into our games and looking at our performances and thinking that we're building and getting better week by week."

The Knights have brought Brettoner back into their ranks after he played a couple of games for the club towards the end of last season.

And the striker saw an early effort deflected wide from Logan Tate's cross before the duo linked up well again with the latter shooting straight at the Sudbury keeper.

The Knights then took a fourth minute lead when Howlett won the ball out wide before drilling into the box and shooting home.

The hosts then had a chance to get straight back into the contest when they were awarded a penalty following a foul but Pinchbeck goalkeeper Ben Martin made an excellent save from the spot kick.

However, an equaliser for Sudbury soon arrived when they levelled the contest in the 14th minute which sparked a strong response from Pinchbeck.

Howlett shot wide after Brettoner had combined with new signing Luke Cullen before Owen Sheriff teed up Brettoner whose effort rattled the crossbar.

Brettoner, Cullen and Nathan Stevens all had further chances for the Knights who struck the crossbar again late in the first half with a header from Sheriff.

The post then thwarted Pinchbeck early in the second half from Howlett's curling effort before both Brettoner and Cullen were denied by excellent saves from the home goalkeeper.

The breakthrough finally came just after the hour mark when Brettoner arrowed home a fine finish to put Pinchbeck back in front.

Teenager Panton was then introduced off the substitutes' bench and marked his arrival shortly after with Pinchbeck's third goal.

Fellow substitute Brenden Parker played in Cullen who unselfishly squared the ball for Panton to tap home with 10 minutes remaining.

Goalkeeper Martin then made a crucial save in the last minute to prevent Sudbury from setting up a nervy finale as the Knights returned home with maximum points.

Their next match is on Saturday when they welcome Leiston Under 23s to the Sir Halley Stewart ground.