Maltby hits double in fine Pinchbeck United victory at title rivals Lutterworth Athletic

LUTTERWORTH ATHLETIC 2
PINCHBECK UTD 3

In-form Ollie Maltby helped himself to a double as Pinchbeck United leapfrogged hosts Lutterworth Athletic into second place in the table with a 3-2 win at Hall Park on Saturday.

Having fallen behind to Harry Mattock’s (20) strike, Josh Smith levelled on 26 minutes before Maltby’s brace (53 and 63) put the Knights 3-1 to the good.

James Parker set up a nervy finish by notching for the hosts in the final minute, but Pinchbeck held on to move up the table.

Player/boss Ian Dunn was impressed with Lutterworth’s style of play, but paid tribute to his depleted side for getting the job done.

He said: “Perhaps we’d have taken a draw before the game, but we simply didn’t know what to expect from them.

“They, like many teams in this league, tried to play out from the back.

“Fair play, they tried to play some nice football – but I felt we dealt with them pretty well.

“Their goals both came from set-pieces, which annoyed us a little.

“But we came back well and I felt we were good value for the win in the end.

“Ollie (Maltby) also had a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside, having run past a defender before he put the ball in the net.

“But, thankfully, it didn’t cost us in the end.

“Perhaps the best thing about the win was that we managed it without quite a few first-teamers.

“Andrew Tidswell, Liam Ogden, Chris Shipley, Ash Murrell and Tom Brooks were among those missing, but we showed our strength in depth.

“It was a long way to go, but I’m very pleased with the win and how we’re faring in the league.”

Pinchbeck’s Maltby had two great chances to put his side ahead early on, before Mattock put the hosts ahead after a corner.

The Knights were only behind for six minutes, though, with Smith capitalising on a keeping clanger to tap home.

That’s how it stayed up until the early stages of the second half, with Maltby burying a Tyler Wright free-kick for 2-1, then finishing off a pass from Dunn to give his side a cushion – rendering Parker’s late goal as mere consolation.

Pinchbeck: Martin, Gordon, B Murrell, Jack Smith, Gardner, Bishop, Wright, Josh Smith, Buzas, Maltby, Dunn. Subs used: Kingston, Kisla, Ramos. Not used: Robinson.

Attendance: 47.