BATTLE FOR PROMOTION CONTINUES

Action from the previous encounter against Cold Ashby

Punjab's preparation for this much anticipated clash against Cold Ashby away has some mixed news.

Garinder Birk, Gary Wilson, Amarpreet Singh, Govinder Shergill and Stewart Hetherington are all unavailable for this fixture.

Good news for the club sees Striker Julian Millington return after three weeks off.
With Michael Crawford also returning.

Squad:- Bhandal,Homer,Hetherington(p)(c), Park, Cox, Pitra, Bright, Millington, Huseyin, Mumin, Kent, Caka, Chong, Crawford, Carvalho, Aksu, Saini, Poonia

Squad to meet at Telford Lodge at 12.30pm Saturday game is away versus Cold Ashby Rovers

SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2007 RECRUITS

During the months of January and February 2007 Punjab made the acquistions of four players who are playing and likely to play a prominent role in a bid for honours this season.

Striker Michael Chong has banged in 9 goals in 7 starts.

Winger Hassan Mumin has scored 3 goals in seven appearances. During these appearances he has played as a Centre back, Striker and a Winger.

Hassan has bought a certain amount of humour to the club as demonstrated with his recent "Borat" outfit after his man of the match performance versus Dainite Sports.

"Borat Mumin"

Versatile player Jaspal Saini has made two appearances this season since coming in and played a vital role in the semi final win over Dainite Sports and followed up that performance with a fairly solid performance away to Daventry Drayton Grange.

Versatile Jaspal Saini

The other being Ahmet Aksu although has been on our books from the beginning he has come into the squad and added extra competition in training and sent a really buzz around the squad with his competitiveness and will to win which rubs off on others within the squad

The Fying Turk "Ahmet Aksu"

PROMOTION CHALLENGE GATHERS PACE

The two Ahmets in action v Daventry Drayton Grange

Daventry Drayton Grange 2 Punjab United 3
HT 0-3 Michael Chong (2)

Hassan Mumin

Punjab made four changes to the line up which saw Gary Park,Simon Kent,Gary Wilson and Duncan Homer make way for Chris Bright,Jaspal Saini,Ahmet Aksu, and Garinder Birk.

2 goal Hitman Michael Chong

Punjab picked up 3 priceless points aginst D.D.G. to keep there promotion challenge alive.

Jaspal Saini in action

Michael Chong opened the scoring within 40 seconds from a neat cut back by Andrew Cox.

Punjab celebrate the opener inside 40 seconds by Michael Chong

Chong then made it two after brillant work by Pitra,Saini and Aksu that teed up Chong to finish.

The contest looked more a less over when Hassan Mumin powered home a header from a well executed Jaspal Saini corner.

Despite the three goals in the first half the visitors could not add any further goals with DDG getting two consolations.

Punjab picked up the points that sees them move into third place in the table.

Team:- Bhandal, Birk,Huseyin,Hetherington(p) (c), Saini, Aksu, Bright, Pitra, Cox, Mumin, Chong (subs:- Hetherington (s) for Birk 65 mins), (Park for Aksu 80 mins) subs not used Kent, Singh, Caka.

Man Of The Match:- Claudio Pitra - Showed all the leadership and kept the team together in the late DDG pressure.

TRICKY VISIT TO DAVENTRY DRAYTON GRANGE

Skipper Paul Hetherington with Bobby Bhandal

Punjab warmed up for this tricky tie against Daventry Drayton Grange with a 19 man training session on a fairly cold Thursday night.

Both Punjab and Daventry will come into this fixture on the back of great wins in the league over Danesholme Vikings and Cold Ashby respectively.

Team news for the fixture sees the return to the squad of Jaspal Saini who missed the Cold Ashby win through a knock.

Stewart Hetherington is available again after a good training session.

Young winger Harry Bajwa is another available for selection this week.

Punjab may well decide to rest a few players this week to freshen the team and give others the chance to impress.

Manager Amrit added we travel with a 22 man squad to the game with so many good players it is a nice headache to have as a manager.

Pushing for a recall

Garinder Birk

Squad:- Bhandal,Homer,Hetherington(p)(c), Park, Birk, Wilson, Cox, Pitra, Bright, Millington, Singh, Huseyin, Mumin, Kent, Caka, Chong, Hetherington(s), Crawford, Carvalho, Aksu, Saini,Bajwa(H),

MANAGERS VIEW ON THE SQUAD

Andrew Cox
22 goals so far

Manager Amrit Poonia commented on how well the team performed in there quest for promotion against a very well equipped Cold Ashby side.

As a squad we have many good players who can fit into different systems,so when we change the starting 11 it not only gives us freshness but confidence within the squad.

"I can pinpoint up to 12 players who at various stages of the season have slotted into different positions in the side.

To name a few Andrew Cox has operated along the midfield as well as a striker.

Gary Park has played across the whole backline as well as across all positions in midfield.

Ahmet Huseyin has slotted into the backline very well this is after we first feared he could miss the season with a knee injury.

Centre Back Ahmet Huseyin

Skipper Paul Hetherington has played a prominent part in his sixth season at the club alongside Ahmet Huseyin.

Skipper Paul Hetherington

The new lads have fitted in great which has enabled them to show some great fighting spirit and show everyone what they can do.

During the close season we bought in Ahmet Huseyin,Chris Bright,Gary Park,
Julian Millington and Andrew Cox.

These players enabled us to develop as a club as well as fit in really well.

The contribution of the squad as a whole has been exceptional with every player at some point or another contributing to something vital to the team.

Early on in the season fringe players helped us pick up 3 vital points against Kettering Park Rovers which proves everyone has a role to play at the club.

As a club we have always maintained we will do whatever it takes to get the good talent to play at this club.

This was backed up in 2007 when we bought in Young winger Hassan Mumin,Former players Michael Chong and Jaspal Saini to strengthen an already good squad.

"Between now and May 5th we have 7 league games and 1 cup final to look forward to in a very enjoyable first season.

All the best....Amrit

GREAT PERFORMANCE

Punjab United 2 Cold Ashby Rovers 0

Michael Chong HT 2-0
Andrew Cox

Punjab produced a great performance against a really well organised Cold Ashby Rovers side.

Punjab dominated the first half exchanges but for some fine goalkeeping and great defensive work the Cold Ashby rearguard stood firm until the 35 minute of the game.

Punjab found the breakthrough when an Andrew Cox flick on was met by Michael Chong on the volley from fully 25 yards which flew into the top right hand corner to give the hosts a deserved lead.

This was his 7th goal in just 6 starts.

In all fairness it was nothing more than the hosts deserved for all there early pressure.

Credit has to be given to Simon Kent whose delivery was pinpoint through the course of the game from corners and free kicks

The visitors then had a clear chance that produced a smart save from Bobby Bhandal.

Michael Chong celebrates his stunning strike

Punjab broke immediately and Michael Chong was denied by some fine work from the visiting keeper.

Punjab doubled the lead when a Hassan Mumin long throw was flicked by Michael Chong into the path of Andrew Cox whose neat finish from the outside of his right boot made it 2-0 in the process scoring his 22nd goal of the season.

Man of The Match Claudio Pitra in action

Second half pressure from the visitors was well snuffed out by the centre back partnership of Huseyin and Hetherington and the excellent Claudio Pitra in front of the back four.

Winger Gary Wilson in action

Gary Wilson then went clear through to force another smart save from the keeper.

All in all a very professional performance on a day that saw Ristee Towers,Danesholme Old Vikings and League leaders Dainite all losing.

Team:- Bhandal,Homer,Huseyin,Hetherington(P)©,Kent,Wilson,Park,Pitra,Mumin,Cox,Chong
Subs:-(Aksu for Wilson 70 minutes),(Subs not used:-Birk,Singh(A),Caka,Bright

Man of the Match:- Claudio Pitra (Excellent performance in midfield, winning all headers and breaking up play where necessary)

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PUNJAB UNITED IN BARCELONA

Chairman Garinder Birk and

Manager Amrit Poonia in Barcelona

Nowadays Punjab players and officials just can't go anywhere without being noticed.

The latest being chairman Garinder Birk and Manager Amrit Poonia who were reportedly scouting in Barcelona in mid-February.

When questioned which players they were looking at...Ronaldinho??Messi??Eto'o?? or Puyol the answer the chairman gave was simple we are looking to lease the Nou Camp for a season....Watch this space for any developments.

BIG ENCOUNTER

Vital strike in Semi Final

Michael Chong

Punjab go into the first of three encounters against High Flying Cold Ashby Rovers on the back of a great semi final win against league leaders Dainite Sports.

Punjab have found themselves with the opportunity to grab one of the important promotion spots this season.

Preparation for the game was enjoyed with a squad of 12 over a 90 minute training session.

Team news for the game sees the welcome return of trio Chris Bright,Ahmet Huseyin and Garinder Birk. Young winger Roland Caka is also added to the squad alongside Stewart Hetherington who for the first time since the NFA Cup win over Higham Town is available.


Jaspal Saini,Julian Millington and Govinder Shergill join Bukhtar Taggar on the sideline this week.

Hassan Mumin and Duncan Homer will have late fitness tests to determine there places in the line up.

Manager Amrit Poonia was quick to add that this game will be tough for both sides and we should see some great football from two great sides.


Squad from:-Bhandal,Homer,Hetherington(P) (c), Park,Birk,Wilson,Cox,Pitra,Bright,Singh (A), Huseyin,Mumin,Kent,Caka,Chong,Hetherington(s),Crawford,Carvalho,Aksu,Poonia.


Players and Officials to meet at Weekly Glebe at 1.20pm. Kick off is 2.30pm.

SEMI FINAL IN PICTURES

Midfielder Claudio Pitra

passing the ball

Action From the semi final

Hassan Mumin celebrates the equalizer

with Park and Coxy

MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY SEES PUNJAB BOOK THEIR PLACE IN THE CUP FINAL

DIVISIONAL CUP SEMI FINAL

DAINITE SPORTS 3 PUNJAB UNITED 5

HT 2-1

HASSAN MUMIN
SIMON KENT(3) 2 PENS
MICHAEL CHONG

Punjab produced a superb performance to book there place in the Divisional Cup final against Cold Ashby.

Despite going down 1-0 after just 1 minute Punjab rolled up there sleeves to produce a magnificent display to see of League leaders Dainite Sports to reach the Cup Final in there first season in Saturday football.

Man Of The Match Hassan Mumin then rammed home the equalizer after good work by Homer and Chong.

Punjab produced countless attacks but just could not finish off there chances

The home side then punished Punjab with a long ball to go 2-1 up at the break.

During the half time Punjab tweaked a couple of things to there game before coming out to blow the opposition away in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

Firstly Simon Kent stepped up to score a 20 yard free kick that he curled into the top left hand corner to level the tie.

Claudio Pitra was then pulled back giving Simon Kent the opportunity to make it 3-2 from the spot which he did.

Michael Chong then met a Gary Wilson corner that he finished off even though the defender on the line tried to hook it clear. The linesman's call for a goal was spot on.

The home side then made it 4-3 when they scored a good goal.

Michael Chong was then bought down to give Simon Kent the chance for his first hat trick which he duly took by hammering the ball into the corner for 5-3.

The quality and movement of Punjab at times was brilliant with a lesser keeper could have won by 7 or 8.

Special praise has to go to the Punjab squad who have produced some wonderful performances this season with not many likely to eclipse this one.

Bobby to the inspirational leader Skinner,Jazza to the full backs Simon and Homer into midfield where Claudio and Gaz Park broke up play and got the team moving with

Wilson and Hassan causing no end of problem and the movement of Coxy and Chongy.

All this on top of tremendous support from family and friends.

A big thanks to Dainite Sports for there participation in a great cup tie…..

Team:- Bhandal,Kent,Hetherington(p) ©, Saini,Homer,Mumin,Pitra,Park,Wilson,Cox,Chong
Subs(Aksu for Wilson 75 minutes),(Chong for Crawford 87 minutes) subs not used Carvalho,Singh(A),Millington

Man Of The Match:- Hassan Mumin - (Gave the full back a torrid time first minute to the last with his pace and power)

TEAM NEWS FOR DIVISIONAL CUP SEMI FINAL

Punjab's preparation took place with a 16 man training session for there big Divisional Cup Semi Final against League leaders Dainite Sports just two days away.

Preparation for the game have gone really well with a few absentees from the squad.

Punjab will travel to the game with a squad of 21 who have all shown plenty of quality in the last few weeks to warrant a spot in the side.

Chris Bright,Ahmet Huseyin and Garinder Birk are all unavailable for the fixture with Bukhtar Taggar(Knee) Stewart Hetherington (Ankle) still long term injury casualties.

Rested players from last week sees Captain Paul Hetherington, Vice Captain Claudio Pitra added to the squad alongside Duncan Homer,Gary Wilson, Julian Millington.

Manager Amrit added this game has a huge incentive for both teams with us looking to make the Cup Final for the first time.

Squad from:- Bhandal,Singh(A),Mumin,Hetherington(P) ©,Saini,Kent,Homer,Park,Wilson,Pitra,Jennings,Millington,Cox,Caka,Chong,Crawford,Carvalho,Shergill(G), Aksu,Poonia,Bajwa(A).

Divisional Cup Semi Final Saturday 10th March 2007 Kick off at 2pm at Market Harborough Leisure Centre.

Players and officials to meet at 12.20pm at Telford Lodge Car Park.

TEAM NEWS FOR DIVISIONAL CUP SEMI FINAL

Punjab's preparation took place with a 16 man training session for there big Divisional Cup Semi Final against League leaders Dainite Sports just two days away.

Preparation for the game have gone really well with a few absentees from the squad.

Punjab will travel to the game with a squad of 21 who have all shown plenty of quality in the last few weeks to warrant a spot in the side.

Chris Bright,Ahmet Huseyin and Garinder Birk are all unavailable for the fixture with Bukhtar Taggar(Knee) Stewart Hetherington (Ankle) still long term injury casualties.

Rested players from last week sees Captain Paul Hetherington, Vice Captain Claudio Pitra added to the squad alongside Duncan Homer,Gary Wilson, Julian Millington.

Manager Amrit added this game has a huge incentive for both teams with us looking to make the Cup Final for the first time.

Squad from:- Bhandal,Singh(A),Mumin,Hetherington(P) ©,Saini,Kent,Homer,Park,Wilson,Pitra,Jennings,Millington,Cox,Caka,Chong,Crawford,Carvalho,Shergill(G), Aksu,Poonia,Bajwa(A).

Divisional Cup Semi Final Saturday 10th March 2007 Kick off at 2pm at Market Harborough Leisure Centre.

Players and officials to meet at 12.20pm at Telford Lodge Car Park.

Fab 5 net in romp

Punjab United 5 Wellingborough Old Grammarians 1

Hassan Mumin HT 2-0
Michael Chong
Victor Carvalho
Michael Crawford
Andrew Cox

Punjab produced a comprehensive win against Wellingborough Old Grammarians to continue there push for promotion.

Punjab scored as early as the fifth minute when Hassan Mumin scored his first of the season with a overhead kick from a well executed corner by Ahmet Aksu.

Michael Chong then flicked home the second after a long throw.

The away side pulled one back after the break before Punjab took total control.

Sub Victor Carvalho who had come on for Roland Caka then hammered home from close range after good work from Andrew Cox for 3-1.

The second sub Michael Crawford then scored from close range for 4-1 before Andrew Cox put the seal on the game with a neat finish after good work from Victor Carvalho and Michael Chong.

Team:- Singh(A),Kent,Park(c),Saini,Huseyin,Bright,Cox,Chong,Mumin,Caka,Aksu
Subs:-(Carvalho for Caka 45 minutes), (Crawford for Bright 70 minutes), (Pitra for Park 82 minutes) subs not used :- Jennings,Shergill(g)

Man of the Match;- Jazz Saini

Team News for the visit of Wellingborough Old Grammarians

Punjab prepared for the visit of Wellingborough Old Grammarians with a 17 man training session in there pursuit of 3 points to get them closer to the top.

Punjab have plenty of players unavailable for selection due to injuries and being away.

Bukhtar Taggar (Knee) is joined on the sideline by Gary Wilson(Knee),Duncan Homer(Ankle) with Garinder Birk,Roland Caka,Julian Millington and Bobby Bhandal all rested for this fixture.

Skipper Paul Hetherington(Knee) will have a late fitness to determine his availability for the game.

Transfer deadline day signing of Jaspal Saini is added to the squad alongside Ahmet Aksu and Daniel Jennings as Punjab look to keep the pressure on at the top end of the table.

Squad from:-Singh (A),Park,Cox,Pitra,Jennings,Bright,Huseyin,Mumin,Hetherington (S)Kent,Chong,Carvalho,Shergill(G),Aksu,Poonia,Saini,Crawford,Hetherington(p)©

Kick is 14:30pm at (Weekly Glebe Kettering)….Players and officials to meet at 13:30pm.

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Quest for Promotion

Squad Lineup before Great Doddington game

Punjab made one change to the starting line up to the team that were beaten unluckily in the NFA Quarter Final of the lower Junior Cup on penalties.

Skipper Paul Hetherington was ruled out with a knee injury with Michael Chong restored to the starting line up after being cup tied against Peterborough Silver Jubilee.

Great Doddington came into this fixture on the back of a great 2-1 win over Weavers Old Boys.

Great Doddington 1 Punjab United 3

Gary Wilson
Michael Chong
Andrew Cox
HT 0-0

Punjab produced a very professional workmanlike performance to come away with 3 vital points in there quest for promotion.

Great Doddington created at least 3 good chances in the first half which were well thwarted by Gary Park, Ahmet Huseyin and Bobby Bhandal.

The best chance for the visitors came via a corner which was hooked off the line at the end of the first half.

Punjab came out in the second half with a fresh approach and rightly scored when Michael Chong teed up man of the moment Gary Wilson to score with a neat finish into the bottom corner for his third goal in as man y games.

The home side were then awarded a dubious penalty which they scored from to make it 1-1.

Simon Kent in Action

Punjab then produced a great counter attack when Pitra,Kent and Cox worked a brilliant opening that Michael Chong finished for his fourth of the season in just three games.

Andrew Cox then finished things off when he followed up a Michael Chong effort to score his 20th of the season.

Punjab also gave a substitution debut to 15 year old Govinder Shergill for the last few minutes.

Man Of the Match:- Gary Park - Very solid performance at the heart of the defence to keep the home side out in the early exchanges.

Team:- Bhandal,Kent,Park,Huseyin,Birk,Millington,Bright,Pitra©,Cox,Wilson,Chong
Subs:- (Millington for Mumin 60 minutes), (Singh for Wilson 84 minutes), (Shergill (G) for Kent 86 minutes) subs not used:- Caka,Bajwa

finally bowed out

NFA (Q/final) Home 17th February 2007
Punjab United 1 Peterborough Silver Jubilee 1

Gary Wilson

(1-1 aet) Peterborough Silver Jubilee won 5-3 on penalties.

Gary Park - Scored
Claudio Pitra - Scored
Simon Kent - Scored

Punjab finally bowed out of the NFA Lower Junior Cup at the quarter final stage to a very well organised P.S.J side.

The game was played at a good pace with both side doing really well in the early exchanges and some good opportunities being created by both teams.

Gary Wilson strokes home the penalty

Punjab took the lead with 60 minutes on the clock when Julian Millington was brought down and up stepped Gary Wilson to stroke home the penalty to give the home side the lead.

Then the turning point of the game in which a corner kick by the visitors was converted after the referee whistled to stop the game for an infringement on a Punjab player for a free kick amazingly the referee then decided to give the goal which gave the visitors a foothold back into the game.

Both keepers produced numerous saves with both defences playing at the top there game to keep the game level in 90 minutes.

In extra time it was the same, before Andrew Cox and Ahmet Aksu somehow failed to convert the chance of the match to put Punjab in the hat for the semi final.

Simon scores in the shootout

The game went into penalties with the visitors scoring all five with Punjab missing the fourth to go into the last four.

Punjab would like to wish Peterborough Silver Jubilee all the best in the competition now.

Team:- Bhandal,Birk,Kent,Huseyin,Hetherington(p)©,Millington,Wilson,Park,Bright,Cox,Pitra
Subs:- (Aksu for Millington 70 minutes) subs not used Crawford,Shergill,Shergill(g),Jennings

Man Of The Match:- Bobby Bhandal - string of fine saves to keep Punjab in the tie…

BACK TO CUP DUTY

After a week break Punjab turn there attentions to the NFA Lower Junior Cup against a good Peterborough Silver Jubilee side.

Team news shows some absentees with Hassan Mumin,Michael Chong (cup tied) Roland Caka (unavailable) Bukhtar Taggar (Knee), Duncan Homer (Foot) all unavailable.

Winger Gary Wilson will have a late fitness test.

Good news for the fixture sees Stewart Hetherington and Garinder Birk available for selection again.

Squad:- Bhandal, Park, Kent,Bright,Huseyin,Cox,Millington, Hetherington(P)©, Hetherington(S)Crawford, Carvalho, Singh(A), Jennings, Poonia, Birk, Aksu, Shergill(g),Pitra,Wilson

Kick off is 1.30pm Punjab United to meet at 12.15pm.

3 valuable points

Weavers Old Boys 2 Punjab United 3

HT-0-3 Andrew Cox(2)
Gary Wilson

Man Of the Match Claudio Pitra

Despite some poor performances from the home teams linesman and the referee Punjab came away from Weavers with 3 valuable points to keep there promotion bid intact.

Hassan Mumin dribbling

In the early exchanges it was a 50-50 tussle from both teams to gain control with Punjab going close about three times but each time the linesman flag stopping there progress.

The first main chance fell to Darren Wingrove of Weavers which produced a smart save from Bobby Bhandal to keep the game level before Punjab took control of the game.

Firstly Gary Wilson,Hassan Mumin and Claudio Pitra teed up Andrew Cox to score by firing into the bottom left corner.

Man of the Match Claudio Pitra who returned after 2 months out then beat four men before putting Andrew Cox in who still had to beat two men before chipping the ball into the top right hand corner for 2-0.

Goalscorer Gary Wilson

The game was effectively over just before the break when Hassan Mumin right wing cross was met by a towering header from Gary Wilson to make it 3-0 at the break.

Goalmouth Action

Weavers pulled two back in the second half but the Punjab rearguard stood up to all the late pressure to take the points.

Team:- Bhandal,Homer,Kent,Huseyin,Hetherington(P)©,Wilson,Pitra,Cox,Millington,Mumin,Park
Subs:-(Aksu for Wilson 85 minutes), Subs not used:- Singh,Carvalho,Crawford,Shergill(g)

Man Of The Match:- Claudio Pitra:- First game back in two months and produced an outstanding display in midfield.