The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Confident player/boss Ian Dunn sees no reason why unbeaten Pinchbeck United should be scared of the trip to table-topping Daventry Town on Saturday (3pm).
Second-placed Pinchbeck, who are two points behind Saturday’s opponents with a game in hand, have taken to life in the Future Lions UCL Premier Division better than anybody could have imagined.
Victory at Communications Park would see the Knights return to the top of the table after nine games, but Dunn feels it’s still too soon to call them title contenders.
But, if they can emerge relatively unscathed from a period that includes clashes with big-hitters Deeping Rangers, Eynesbury Rovers, Newport Pagnell Town and Rugby Town, he says he’ll change his tune.
“I’m confident of going there and winning the game,” said Dunn. “I’ve seen them play a few times and there’s no reason we can’t go there and get a result.
“Three points would obviously be great and I’m also not foolish enough to say that a draw wouldn’t be a decent result.
“We’ve got a good set of lads here and we’ve addressed the early season fitness issues that we appeared to have.
“They’ve been in twice a week for training and we’ve worked them hard, so we’ve prepared perfectly.
“I know we’ve got it in our locker to go there and win the game, but it’d be hard to say we are title contenders if we do that.
“We’ve got a big month ahead with some very hard games. Maybe once we’ve played the Rugby game (November 17), we’ll have a better idea.
“Obviously, if we lose a few then it’s unlikely we’ll be in the race. But if we can get through these fixtures and still be in the mix, then why not?”
Pinchbeck go into Saturday’s game on a much-publicised run of 36 league games unbeaten and after a two-week break due to not being in the FA Vase.
In contrast, Daventry were beaten 2-1 by Eynesbury Rovers in their last home game, before edging to a 1-0 victory at basement side Rothwell Corinthians last weekend.
The clash is also a showdown between the league’s most prolific attack and its most miserly defence.
Daventry’s tally of 24 goals is equalled only by Holbeach United, while nobody has conceded fewer then the Knights (five in eight).
New signing Stacy Cartwright and key midfielders Andrew Tidswell and Chris Shipley are all likely to return for Pinchbeck, but they still have a lengthy list of absentees.
Nick Bishop and Jason Field both miss the trip, while Jack Smith and Tony Edwards remain banned.
Meanwhile, Pinchbeck have made a seven-day notice of approach for Spalding United skipper Ben Davison.
Dunn is bidding to add to his squad after talented winger Aaron Eyett left the club ahead of joining the RAF and Corey Newman made the move to league rivals Boston Town.
