Dunn: Manager of month prize shows progress being made at Pinchbeck United

Proud Pinchbeck United player/boss Ian Dunn feels that his Future Lions UCL Premier Division manager of the month award for March shows how far the club have come.

Dunn was named the league’s top boss for last month after going unbeaten in six games, winning three home games and drawing three testing away trips.

It’s the first time he’s claimed the monthly prize as a Step Five manager – and the Knights chief insists that the award is for everyone at the club.

He said: “It shows how far the club has come. If somebody had said I’d be manager of the month in the UCL Premier Division two years ago, I’d have laughed.

“We’ve probably had better months this season, but March could have been ever better – we should arguably have won all three of the away games that we drew.

“It’s a cliché, but this prize is for everyone at the club. From the management team to the players, we’ve all made great strides this season and everyone deserves a great deal of credit.”

This Saturday sees the fourth-placed Knights welcome dangerous Newport Pagnell to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field (3pm).

Dunn saw his side crushed 6-3 in the reverse fixture back in November, but feels his side have come a long way since then.

He does, however, admit that Pagnell – ninth in the table – possess one of the best strikeforces in the league in Dom Lawless and Tom Liversedge.

The Pinchbeck player/boss added: “If I look back at the team we fielded at Pagnell, it was quite inexperienced.

“We’ve got a lot more experience now and should fare a lot better.

“In my opinion, Pagnell have one of the best attacks in the league.

“Lawless and Liversedge can win games on their own at this level, they score goals for fun.

“We’ll back ourselves at home, though. It’s a chance for us to keep that gap ahead of Holbeach as we do our best to finish fourth.”

Pinchbeck are likely to be without key midfielder Andrew Tidswell, who could miss the rest of the season.

New keeper Dan Gorman, who is the RAF’s number one stopper, could also feature after debuting last week.