Dunn: Table-topping Pinchbeck United have proved that promotion isn’t scary

Ian Dunn reckons that his Pinchbeck United side have proved that teams from the ChromaSport PDFL have nothing to fear about aiming for promotion to the United Counties League.

The Knights, promoted from the PDFL Premier Division last season, are currently six points clear at the top of ChromaSport UCL Division One – and ten of their regular line-up last season were playing at Step Seven this time last year.

Andrew Tidswell, the only non-PDFL player from last year, wasn’t playing competitive football for much of last season either – leaving Dunn to praise the effort and ambition shown by his current squad.

“I think it’s a great statistic,” said the player/boss. “It was always going to be a test for the PDFL lads to step up.

“Obviously a few of them did have a bit of prior UCL experience, but they were all with us last season barring Josh Smith and Dan Swan. We’ve acquitted ourselves so well.

“I’ve always thought that the top few sides in the PDFL would do well in UCL Division One. Hopefully we’re proving that making that step, be it for a player or a club, aiming higher isn’t unachievable.

“Saying that, to be six points clear is crazy – we never expected that.”

This Saturday sees Pinchbeck welcome Huntingdon Town to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field (3pm) in a return fixture from the opening day of the season.

The duo drew 0-0 on a wet and wild Friday night back in July, but both teams have evolved since then. Huntingdon will have ex-Knights duo Herbie Panting and Corey Kingston in their squad, with Dunn sure both will want to prove a point.

He added: “I’m sure Herbie and Corey will be aiming to shine on Saturday – it’s our job to stop them.

“In a way, both sides are quite similar. We’re both packed full of former PDFL players. They are a decent side and they’ll want to show that on Saturday.

“We’ve just got to continue doing what we’ve been doing. If we do play like we have been, I’m sure we’ll be fine.

“The form we’ve been in, we’d back ourselves against anybody in this division. We’ve cut out the silly mistakes from earlier in the season – and you can see the results.”

Pinchbeck are without Liam Ogden and Tidswell, while Chris Shipley is a doubt.