Lincoln United cruised past Pinchbeck United at the Sun-Hat Villas & Resorts Stadium. They recorded another home victory this season, winning comfortably by four goals to nil.
First-Half:
It was a strong start from the hosts, as Elliott Dye’s head met a Millard corner, but his effort was off target. Harry Millard was shown an early yellow card for stopping a Pinchbeck counter-attack in under ten minutes.
The visitors’ first chance of the game fell the way of Amadu Kanu, with his near post effort from the right wing being comfortably held by United goalkeeper Jack Steggles.
Jack McMenemy went close on two occasions around the 20 minute mark. His first effort was a low shot from the edge of the box that was held by Pinchbeck goalkeeper Lewis Cox. Then, Cox was forced into a fine finger-tip save, as he tipped McMenemy’s effort around the post and out for a corner.
A flurry of chances came and went for the hosts as the first half drew to a close, with Liversidge having a goal-bound effort blocked and McMenemy going close just before referee Liam Vayro brought the first half to a close.
Second-Half:
It only took the hosts a couple of minutes in the second half to put their noses in front. Forward Jack McGovern poked the ball home for Chris Funnell’s side after a previous header had been cleared off the line.
From that moment on, the hosts never looked back against a poor Pinchbeck side. Kallum Smith was next to go close for The Whites, after a smart touch on the edge of the box allowed him time to get his strike away. Unfortunately for Smith, his effort was powered wide.
The only negative for Chris Funnell’s side came on the hour mark when Harry Millard went down and forced Funnell’s hand to make an early change. Mitch Griffiths who has only recently returned from injury himself came on to replace him.
Post-match, The Whites manager confirmed that it is a hamstring issue for Millard.
In the 65th minute the lead was doubled and an element of relief was felt around the ground. Elliott Dye picked up his second goal in as many games, as he acrobatically flicked a header at the near post, which looped over everybody and into the bottom right corner.
Dye would go close once again, but a smart stop from Cox denied the midfielder, following a one-on-one situation, and would be cautioned minutes later. Man of the match Ted Gibbons somehow didn’t extend the lead after his powerful effort from six yards was heroically blocked on the line. At this point, the hosts looked to finish any real chance of a contest.
Five minutes from time, all Pinchbeck hopes of a potential comeback were extinguished when substitute Jake Park got himself a goal, beautifully flicking home a low cross from Tobias Liversidge. The winger then went close himself, but Lewis Cox made himself big and pushed the effort clear with his feet.
The ball was in the back of the net again three minutes later via McGovern, following on from a previous shot being saved. However, the officials had judged that the United was in an offside position.
Kallum Smith rounded off the scoring as the game went into added time.
The full-back rolled back the years, twisting and jinking his way from left-back into the middle of the pitch before finding McGovern. The forward found previous goal-scorer Park, whose cross found allowed Smith to add the finishing touch. It was a nice early present before his 500th game for Lincoln United.
Lincoln United 4-0 Pinchbeck United
It was a fully dominant performance by Chris Funnell’s side throughout the game. The scoreline could have been a lot higher, against a Pinchbeck side who never really threatened.