TEAM NEWS FOR COUNTY CUP ENCOUNTER

Claudio and Homer return to the fold this weekend

Punjab's training session tonight was called off due to a power cut at the CTC venue.
The boys enjoyed a comfortable win in the Divisional Cup last week and will be looking to add to that win this week in the County Cup versus Peterborough Castor & Ailsworth.
Team news sees Bethel Ofoshene (away), Lewis Everitt (Cup tied) and Hassan Mumin (suspended) all missing out.
However midfield duo Claudio Pitra and Chris Bright are added to the squad alongside Garinder Birk and Duncan Homer who returns after missing out last weekend.
Squad:- Bhandal, Homer, Hetherington(p)(c), Park, Shergill, Wilson, Cox, Barry, Bright, Millington, Kumar, Huseyin, Saini, Logue, Carvalho, Chong, Pitra, Hetherington(s), Calder, Birk.
Players and Officials of Punjab United to meet at Weekly Glebe Fields Saturday at 12pm.
Kick Off is 1:30pm...

5 STAR PUNJAB PROGRESS INTO NEXT ROUND

Divisional Cup Quarter Final

Punjab United 5 Islip United 0

Michael Chong (3) 1 pen

Paul Hetherington

Gary Wilson

HT 1-0

Punjab starting line up saw two changes to the side that won 5-2 last weekend against Finedon Volta with Skipper Paul Hetherington coming in for Duncan Homer (unavailable) and Striker Michael Chong coming in for Hassan Mumin (unavailable).

Also returning to the squad saw Govinder Shergill, Sandeep Kumar and Bruce Calder all taking there places amongst the bench.

Punjab progressed to the last four of the Divisional Cup with a comfortable win over Islip United.

Punjab missed plenty of chances in the first half but the breakthrough came when Striker Micheal Chong knocked home after Coxy's effort had been saved to put Punjab 1-0 up at the break although in all fairness Islip were lucky to be just one down.

In particular Gary Wilson who could have had a first half hat trick.

Punjab came out in the second half and played some good neat football and were rewarded a 2nd goal when Ahmet Huseyin tapped a free kick to Warren Barry whose floated ball was met with a stunning side foot volley by Captain Paul Hetherington to make it 2-0.

Chief culprit of missed chances Gary Wilson finally scored at the 7th attempt when he placed in number 3 before departing for Victor Carvalho.

Michael Chong then chipped the keeper when he beat the offside tap to make it 4-0.

Stewart Hetherington was then introduced to the action when he took over in goal from the injured Bobby Bhandal and produced 2 good saves.

Defender Bruce Calder was introduced to the action for Ahmet Huseyin and produced some nice touches working up and down the line.

The seal was put on the performance when Warren Barry was brought down and duly gave Michael Chong the chance for his hat trick from the spot that he took to make it 5-0.

A solid performance throughout the team and a big thank you to Islip.

STUNNING VOLLEY

SKIPPER PAUL HETHERINGTON

FINALLY ON THE SCORESHEET

GARY WILSON
HAT TRICK HERO

MICHAEL CHONG

Team:- Bhandal, Huseyin, Hetherington(p)(c), Saini, Park, Wilson, Barry, Cox, Logue, Millington, Chong. (subs:- Carvalho for Wilson 65 mins; Hetherington(s) for Bhandal 70 mins; Calder for Huseyin 78 mins) subs not used Shergill and Kumar.

Man Of The Match:- Michael Logue:- (Solid in the middle and kept the side ticking over)

TEAM NEWS FOR VISIT TO ISLIP IN DIV.CUP

Andrew Cox...

Looking to add to goals

Attention turns to the Divisional Cup this week with after Punjab recorded a 5-2 win in the league against fellow promotion hopefuls Finedon Volta last week.
Punjab enjoyed a competitive training session in preparation for a tough assignment on Saturday away to Islip United in the Divisional Cup.
Team News sees Bruce Calder return to the squad after missing out the week before.
Duncan Homer joins Garinder Birk, Chris Bright and Bethel Ofoshene on the sidelines.
Goalkeeper Lewis Everitt is cup tied for this one.


Squad:- Bhandal, Hetherington(p)(c), Park, Shergill, Wilson, Cox, Barry, Millington, Kumar, Huseyin, Saini, Logue,Carvalho, Chong, Hetherington(s), Calder.

Players and Officials to meet at Islip Playing Fields, Toll Bar Lane, Islip. Meeting there at 12:30pm. Kick Off is 1:30pm..

COXY HITS 4 AS PUNJAB COME FROM BEHIND TO BEAT VOLTA

Punjab United 5 Finedon Volta 2

Andrew Cox (4)

Jazz Saini

HT 1-1

Punjab's starting line up showed just one change to the side that beat weedon 6-0 with Bruce Calder (away) making way for Ahmet Huseyin.

Also returning to the squad saw Michael Chong, Skipper Paul Hetherington,

Victor Carvalho and new signing Lewis Everitt with all taking there places amongst the bench.

Punjab produced a solid second half performance to see off a resilient Volta side in this top of the table clash.

Punjab scored inside 7 minutes when Julian Millington squared for Andrew Cox to roll home the first to make it 1-0.

Volta produced some nice football at times and were guilty of spurning 2 good chances before they got a deserved equaliser that was finished off at the back post for 1-1.

4 goal hitman - Andrew Cox

Winger Gary Wilson

Takes on full back

Punjab re-shuffled at the break and came out, however they conceded when a finish at the back post made it 2-1 to Volta.

The tactical re-shuffle seemed to Galvanize Punjab when Andrew Cox curled home a brilliant 30yard free kick that beat the keeper and crashed into the top right hand corner for 2-2.

Man Of The Match Andrew Cox then turned provider when he sent over a cross that Jazz Saini half volleyed into the bottom right corner to put the visitors 3-2 up.

Coxy then crashed a shot into the top right hand corner again from 15yards to make it 4-2 for his hat trick.

A superb move was created for the 5th when Andrew Cox was slipped in again and he coolly slotted the ball under the on-rushing keeper for 5-2.

A huge win for Punjab and a very enjoyable match to watch.

Thanks to Volta for the after match hospitality.

Team:- Bhandal, Huseyin, Homer, Saini(c), Park, Wilson, Barry, Cox, Logue, Mumin, Millington

(Subs:-Mumin for Chong 45mins;Park for Hetherington(p) 45 mins; Hetherington(s) for Wilson 68 mins) (subs not used Carvalho and Everitt)

Man Of The Match:- Andrew Cox - Who Else????

TEAMS NEWS FOR VISIT TO FINEDON VOLTA

Hat Trick Hero last time out

Jazza Saini

Punjab prepared for the league visit to Finedon Volta with a 13 man training session in windy conditions.

However there is a possibility the fixture could be postponed due to the major down pour we have had in the past week.

Team News sees many absentees from the squad Defenders Bruce Calder, Garinder Birk (away), Bethel Ofoshene is missing for 3 weeks(Africian Nations Cup in Ghana), With Chris Bright still out.

Back In Contention

Skipper Paul Hetherington

Better news sees skipper Paul Hetherington return to the squad after missing out two weeks ago versus Weedon alongside Ahmet Huseyin. New signings Lewis Everitt and Antony Mottola are also added to the squad.
Striker Michael Chong returns to the club from S&L and has been included in the squad.

Squad:- Bhandal, Homer, Hetherington(p)(c), Park, Wilson, Cox, Mumin, Barry, Millington, Everitt, Kumar, Huseyin, Saini, Logue, Carvalho, Hetherington(s), Mottola, Chong.

Players and Officials to meet at Odeon Cinema car park at 12:30pm game kicks off at 2pm at Finedon Rec, Finedon.

XMAS NIGHT OUT - FINAL PART

Hassan and The Gaffer

Thumbs Up Homer, Skinner and GP

Normally the last 3 in the Cordwainer every Saturday

Wozza, Sharbi (Bruce) and The Gaffer

Coxy and Ahmet enjoy a cocktail

Brighty trying again

The Gaffer, Jules and Skipper

Ahmet don't look happy with Wozza and Brighty

as Homer gives a thumbs up.

Strike Partners Hassan & Coxy

sharing a bit of love for a change

Brighty, Coxy, Wozza, GP and "The extra of the week" Ahmet

COUNTY CUP GAME CALLED OFF

Punjab's county cup match at home to Peterborough Castor and Ailsworth has been called off due to the bad weather.

The fixture will now be played on the 19th January 2008 still at Weekly Glebe, Kettering.

GOALKEEPER ARRIVES AS PUNJAB LOOK TO KICK ON

Punjab are pleased to announce the signing of Goalkeeper Lewis Everitt from Corby Loco's.

"Lewis is a good keeper and will push Bobby Bhandal for the Number 1 jersey" added Amrit Poonia the manager.

Punjab have been looking for another goalkeeper for a while so now we have added competition.

Already we have seen the quality he has in training.

Punjab United can also confirm Lewis Everitt is ONLY eligible to play in League games because of his involvement for Loco's in the NFA Lower Junior Cup and Divisional Cup.

The big test will be for Lewis to now gain the Number 1 jersey in a season that still promises alot.

PUNJAB GEAR UP FOR COUNTY CUP CLASH

Portuguese Winger Victor Carvalho

Pushing for a recall

Defender Ahmet Huseyin

Available for Selection

Punjab enjoyed a highly competitive training session for preparation for the big County Cup clash versus Peterborough Castor and Ailsworth.
Peterborough Castor and Ailsworth enjoyed an extra time 2-1 win versus Gretton whilst we eliminated Kingscliffe 8-4 in the last round.
It promises to be a good game with the Punjab lads looking forward to the game.
Team News for the fixture sees the return to the squad of Ahmet Huseyin, Skipper Paul Hetherington, Bethel Ofoshene and Victor Carvalho.
Missing from the squad again sees Garinder Birk (ill), Govinder Shergill (unavailable), Sandeep Kumar(ankle) and Chris Bright all missing this one.
Punjab could include new signings defender Antony Mottola and Goalkeeper Lewis Everitt in the squad if NFA Clearance is approved.
Squad:- Bhandal, Homer, Hetherington(p)(c), Park, Wilson, Cox, Mumin, Barry, Millington, Huseyin, Saini, Logue, Carvalho, Ofoshene, Hetherington(s), Calder, Mottola, Everitt.

JAZZA HITS HAT TRICK AS PUNJAB HIT WEEDON FOR SIX

Punjab United 6 Weedon FC 0

Jaspal Saini (3) 1 pen

Andrew Cox

Warren Barry

Hassan Mumin

HT 4-0

Punjab line up showed 2 changes from the side that won against Burton last week with Skipper Paul Hetherington and Ahmet Huseyin missing today with Bruce Calder and Gary Wilson replacing them in the starting line up.

Punjab started well and made plenty of the early running and were duly rewarded in the 8th minute when Andrew Cox finished well from a square ball by Hassan Mumin for 1-0.

Hat Trick Hero - Jaspal Saini

A raking long ball by the recalled Bruce Calder was finished well by Jazz Saini for his first of the season when he slipped it under the on-rushing keeper for 2-0.

Player Of The Month for December Warren Barry then netted an excellent solo strike when he glided past 3 defenders drew the keeper of the line and hammered the ball into the roof of the net for 3-0.

Great Goal - Warren Barry

Warren Barry and Michael Logue linked up well with Michael Logue playing a great ball into Hassan Mumin who finished well for his 3rd goal in 3 games for 4-0 to finish the scoring at half time.

Punjab came out in the second half and scored again when Warren Barry's corner was headed towards goal by Hassan Mumin into Jazz Saini's path to net his 2nd to make it 5-0.

Warren Barry was fouled for a Punjab penalty that Andrew Cox gave to Jaspal Saini for his hat trick that he duly obliged with for a great finish for 6-0.

Team:- Bhandal, Calder, Homer, Saini, Park, Wilson, Cox, Barry, Logue, Mumin, Millington (subs Hetherington (s) for Homer 55 mins; Kumar for Millington 65 mins)

Man Of The Match:- Jazz Saini - (Great performance and a good hat-trick to go with it)

PUNJAB PREPARE FOR WEEDON

Two goals in last two games

Hassan Mumin

Solid return to the side

Duncan Homer

Punjab enjoyed a 13 man training session in chilly conditions ready for the visit of Weedon FC.

Team news sees Govinder Shergill, Chris Bright, Ahmet Huseyin and Bethel Ofoshene all miss out due to illness and unavailability.

Punjab see the possible return of Gary Wilson who came through training in impressive form.

With Stewart Hetherington possibly available for selection.

Manager added "We played some good football last week and need to hit the same level again if we want to get closer to the top again".

Squad:- Bhandal, Homer, Hetherington(p)(c), Park, Birk, Wilson, Cox, Mumin, Barry, Millington, Kumar, Saini, Logue, Hetherington(s), Calder, Poonia.

Players and Officials to meet at Weekly Glebe Fields at 12:30-12.45pm on Saturday.

PICS FROM PUNJAB'S XMAS NITE OUT

Well Drinking Magniers is easy aint it!!!...A girls drink

Skinner and Brighty

Sandeep enjoys a laugh

Jules and Warren

Jules and Hassan

Hassan and Coxy

Brucie with Brighty's mate Skinner and Brighty

Brucie with a bird

Mumin and Ahmet

Ahmet Sings as Hassan and GP look on

Hassan and Coxy enjoy a laugh

Brucie and GP

Jules, Ahmet, GP and Coxy

Bethel and Duncan enjoy a drink