The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Brown wants to spoil the Pinchbeck party
KINGS Cliffe boss Alex Brown has challenged his side to rain on Pinchbeck’s championship parade in the biggest match of the Premier Division season on Saturday.
Table-topping title favourites Pinchbeck need two wins from their remaining four matches to secure the crown. Providing they can overcome Coates tomorrow night, that could happen with victory at closest challengers Cliffe in a mouthwatering Saturday showdown.
But Brown – a Premier Division winner three times as a player and once as a manager – is ready to assume the role of party pooper and he still hasn’t given up hope of his side snatching the title at the end of their first-ever top-flight season.
Brown said: “We can still win the league with three matches of our season to go and a lot of teams would love to be in that position.
“We’ll be doing everything we possibly can to try and make it happen and we will certainly be ready to stop the party if it turns out Pinchbeck can win the title here on Saturday.
“Every game is the biggest of our season at the moment and this one will be no different.
“It’s a cup final for us. If we win we can still win the title but if we lose it is all over.
“There’s no doubt in my mind we can do it and we have to keep believ- ing in ourselves.
“We really need Pinchbeck to drop seven points from here and even then we will still have to win all three of our own games which will be far from easy. Granted it’s a tall order but it’s a challenge we’re looking forward to.
“Ourselves and Coates are also the only teams in with a chance of doing a double over Pinchbeck as well. Hopefully we can both manage it in the next few days.”
Cliffe will go into the weekend battle on the crest of a wave after reeling off seven successive victories. The latest of those was a 4-0 weekend demolition of an understrength Coates side on Saturday.
Andrew Bradley scored twice with striker Gary Gibbs and substitute Adam Bevilacqua getting the others.
“We’re keeping the title race interesting,” said tongue-in-cheek Coates manager Gary Munns. “Although sadly it’s not for ourselves. CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW
PINCHBECK are hoping their 20year wait for a Premier Division title ends as soon as possible.
The double-chasers can add the league title to their PFA Senior Cup crown by the weekend and playerboss Ian Dunn hopes that’s exactly what happens.
“We know we’re two wins away from winning the title and we want to get them as quickly as possible,” said Dunn, whose side slammed whipping boys Alconbury 10-0 in a top-versus-bottom clash at the weekend. “We’re playing well, we’re unbeaten in seven matches and everyone at the club is buzzing.”
A 30-yard screamer from fullback Dan Maddison was the pick of Pinchbeck’s bumper bunch of goals. PFA Senior Cup final hero Tom Gosling hit a hat-trick while player-boss Dunn and Jimmy Mcdonnell struck twice apiece. Defender Lee Marshall and sub Jonny Butler got the others.
Dunn added: “It was a great boost to our goal difference which is really worth an extra point to us.”
LEWIS Stone racked up a hat-trick of sorts on his Netherton first-team debut.
Stone, who plays the majority of his football for Yaxley in the United Counties League, started at left-back in a 3-2 success at Leverington on Saturday.
But he was moved into midfield following an early injury and then played the final hour of the match as an emergency goalkeeper after regular number one Ben Carter was carried off hurt.
“He did well in all three positions,” said boss Johnny Byrne whose side bounced back from their PFA Senior Cup final heart-break.
“The attitude was first-class and the lads showed terrific character to make sure our season didn’t just fizzle out.”
Netherton led through a rare Mark Kingston headed goal but found themselves 2-1 down by the break.
Ben Cullen headed them level before Lee Clementson helped himself to a late winner.
“If matches only lasted for an hour we’d be a top-four team,” said Leverington boss Stuart Webb.
“This match summed up our season. We were comfortable in front but can’t seem to hold onto a lead.
“We’ve lost 3-2 to Netherton twice now and I feel we’ve been the better side in both games.”