Pants on fire! Tom’s double steers Pinchbeck to derby win over Moulton

Pinchbeck United 2
Moulton Harrox 1

Tom Panton came back to haunt his old side on Saturday as his second-half double fired Pinchbeck United to derby glory against Moulton Harrox at Knight Street.

Converted frontman Panton, who was part of Harrox’s ChromaSport PDFL Premier Division title-winning side last season, smashed home two venomous left-footed strikes for Pinchbeck on 60 and 71 minutes.

Corban Oldham replied with an injury-time penalty for Harrox, who will feel they should have taken something from the derby following a dominant first-half performance that saw them miss chance after chance.

The visitors carried a major threat from set-pieces from the off, with defender Ashley Coddington nodding a dangerous Danny Maddison corner wide.

Speedy Harrox striker Marcus Parry then raced clean through and rounded home keeper Joe Ashton, but sliced his effort wide with the goal gaping.

Joe Townsend had a decent shout for a penalty waved away, before Moulton skipper Billy King crashed a curling effort onto the underside of the bar. Townsend lashed home the rebound, but was offside.

The chances continued to come for Moulton. Coddington nodded a King free kick wide, then the skipper was unable to slide the ball into an empty net after Townsend had headed Maddison’s cross across the six-yard line.

Pinchbeck’s only noteworthy attack of the opening period culminated in a moment of controversy, with Harrox keeper Lee Kenealy appearing to handle the ball outside of the box to halt an Ollie Maltby run. Nothing was given, much to the annoyance of Ian Dunn and Allan Ross on the home bench.

However, the half ended with Moulton missing another great opportunity from a corner. This time it was Jake Cawthorne who headed Maddison’s corner wide from close range.

That trend continued early in the second period, with Parry seeing his header cleared off the line.

But Pinchbeck were never going to be as bad as they had been in the opening 45 minutes – and they duly took the lead following the best footballing move of the match.

A move that began at the back climaxed with Liam Ogden slipping Panton in with a great first-time pass, allowing the ex-Harrox ace to lash home at the near post on the hour.

Panton was at it again some 11 minutes later, lashing another left-footed drive into the bottom corner from just inside the box to give Pinchbeck a 2-0 advantage with 19 minutes left to play.

The quick double knocked the stuffing out of Moulton, who failed to create much in the closing stages. They did net a controversially awarded injury-time penalty through Oldham, but there wasn’t enough time left for a leveller.

Harrox drop from top to third as a result of their second defeat on the spin, while Pinchbeck climb up to sixth place and are just eight points off top spot with two games in hand.

Pinchbeck: Ashton, Edwards, Gardner, Shipley, Smith, Ross (Brooks 50), Lawe (Francis 83), Bishop (Eyes 69), Maltby, Panton, Ogden. Not used: B Murrell, Dunn.

Moulton: Kenealy, McGuire, Groves, Watkin (Johnson 63), Coddington, King, Townsend (Lambe-Hyner 73), Maddison, Parry, Cawthorne, Allen (Oldham 63). Not used: N Steadman.

RESULTS

ChromaSport PDFL

Premier Division: Holbeach United Res 3 AFC Stanground Sports 5; Leverington Sports 2 Sawtry 2; Netherton United 6 Ketton 0; Peterborough ICA Sports 2 Stilton United 0; Peterborough Sports Res 5 Uppingham Town 2; Pinchbeck United 2 Moulton Harrox 1.

Division One: Long Sutton Athletic 6 Kings Cliffe 1; Oakham United Res 2 Glinton & Northborough 1; Spalding United Res 0 Moulton Harrox Res 5; Stamford Belvedere 1 Netherton United Res 3; Warboys Town 5 Peterborough Polonia 1; Wittering Harriers 5 Riverside 0.

Division Two: Crowland Town Res 2 Tydd St Mary 1; Ketton Res 2 Leverington Sports Res 2; Langtoft United Res 5 Spalding Town 2; Parkway Eagles 9 Peterborough ICA Sports Res 2; Ramsey Town 2 AFC Stanground Sports Res 5.

Division Three: Uppingham Town Res 3 Rutland DR 10; Whittlesey Athletic B 5 Stamford Belvedere Res 0; Sawtry Res 6 Farcet United 2; AFC Stanground Sports A 1 FC Peterborough 5.

Division Four: Holbeach Bank 5 Huntingdon Rovers 2; Parkside 2 Cardea 2; Premiair 7 Stamford Lions A 0; Whaplode Drove 3 Whittlesey Athletic C 1.

Division Five: FC Orton 2 Orton Rangers 4; Riverside Res 1 Holbeach United 8.

Lincs Junior Cup (selected): Susie Star 1 Crowland Town 6; Tetney Rovers 4 Sutton Bridge 2.