Crozier disappointed by red card as ten-man Pinchbeck United lose crunch clash

Sleaford Town 3
Pinchbeck United 2

A controversial red card and the lack of a recognised keeper proved key as Pinchbeck United lost 3-2 at Sleaford Town on Saturday.

Sam Jackson (2) and Wez Greenwood scored for the hosts at Eslaforde Park as Tom Crozier’s Knights slipped down to 18th in the Uhlsport UCL Premier Division table.

Kevin Annan and new signing Dan Parkinson (pen) got Pinchbeck back in the game at 2-1 and 3-2, but a red card to Mario Neves in the second half put the skids on their progress.

Crozier said: “It was probably a week to forget for us with the keeper situation, but it happens over the course of a season at this level.

“It was just a shame it was in a big derby game for us, where we felt three points were there for the taking.

“Sleaford came out of the blocks a lot quicker than us and punished our mistakes.

“Once again, we were our own worst enemy by over-playing in the wrong areas of the pitch, which lead to two of the three goals.

“The positives were there again though as we stuck at it and got back in the game with a goal from Kevin Annan.

“We dominated after that, having enough good chances to go in level at half time – but were slow out the blocks again for the second half and it cost us as we gave away another sloppy goal.

“The controversial dismissal of Mario Neves midway through the second half was a strange one, as the referee two yards away didn’t see anything but the linesman 60 yards away apparently did.

“This is the same official who told us in first half that he couldn’t make decisions from afar as that wasn’t his job.

“Credit to the lads, though, even with ten men they got us back in the game with a penalty which new signing Dan Parkinson calmly tucked away.

“But it was just too late in the day and we just didn’t have time to push for another.

“Huge credit to Jamie Shaw and Sleaford Town they will no doubt cause a lot of teams problems this season.”

Knights: Dawson, Annan, Worthington, Armond, Dawson, Kacirek, Lal, Mason, Neves, Parkinson, Krashiqi, Auld. Subs used: Atoro, Dunn, Ojo.