PUNJAB LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK AFTER CUP SETBACKS

Defender Shaun Waite

Punjab enjoyed a 13 man training session on Thursday for the upcoming league clash against Corby Phoenix this weekend.

Team News for the fixture sees Victor Carvalho, Claudio Pitra, Bruce Calder and Julian Millington (unavailable) all miss out.

Chris Francis Though back in light training will not be risked.

Ahmet Huseyin, Bethel Ofoshune and Amaarpreet Singh are added to the squad alongside Aston Pink who missed last weeks game with a late withdrawal.

Squad:- De La Huliniere, Spencer, Park, Birk, Walker, Pink, Chong, Aksu, Thompson, Ofoshune, Saini(c), Logue, Waite, Sleafer, Singh, Poonia, Huseyin.

Management to arrive by 12:30pm at Weekly Glebe, Players to arrive 1pm.

PUNJAB WELL BEATEN BY ELEANOR IN COUNTY CUP

Punjab United 1 Queen Eleanor 4 - (NFA County Cup)

Robert Thompson

HT 1-1

Despite levelling the game before the break courtesy of Robert Thompson's first goal for the club Punjab were well beaten by a very good Queen Eleanor side who should be amongst the honours come end of the season.

Team:- De La Huliniere, Park, Spencer, Walker, Birk, Millington, Logue, Saini(c), Aksu, Chong, Thompson subs:- Sleafer for Park 65 mins; Carvalho for Aksu 70 mins) subs not used Poonia and Waite

TEAM NEWS FOR COUNTY CUP CLASH

Aston Pink....

Very bright start to his Punjab career

Punjab travel to league leaders Queen Eleanor this Saturday in the NFA County Cup.
Queen Eleanor inflicted a 4-0 defeat on Punjab the last time these sides met with Punjab now looking to turn things around.
Team news sees Garinder Birk & Victor Carvalho return to the squad.
Bobby Bhandal (flu) is a doubt aswell.
Injured Chris Francis is missing again with Chris Sleafer a possible option dependant on his signing on coming through.
Claudio Pitra & Bethel Ofoshune are also unavailable for this one.

Squad:- De La Hulinieire, Spencer, Park, Birk, Walker, Pink, Chong, Aksu, Thompson, Millington, Saini(c), Logue, Carvalho, Waite, Sleafer, Poonia.

Players and Officials to meet at Odeon Cinema at 12:15pm to travel to Q.Eleanor (Kick Off 2pm)

TRAINING TONIGHT

Punjab's training tonight will commence for a 7:30-7:45pm start all players are requested to bring football boots and suitable astro-turf trainers.

Management Team

PUNJAB BOW OUT OF THE DIVISIONAL CUP

Punjab United 0 Wooton St George 3

HT 0-0

Punjab lost out to a well organised Wooton side 3-0 in the Divisional Cup despite having a perfectly good goal chalked off by a late linesman flag.

However Wooton scored when a similar goal was allowed to stand, with Punjab then chasing the game Wooton added a 2nd before a late 3rd ensured Punjab were not to progress.

Team:- De La Huliniere, Waite, Park, Walker(c), Spencer, Pink, Chong, Logue, Millington, Aksu, Thompson (sub Saini for Aksu 80 mins; subs not used Ofoshune, Bhandal, Poonia)

Man Of the Match:- Danny Spencer

TEAM NEWS FOR DIVISIONAL CUP CLASH

Danny Spencer... Returns to the squad

After an excellent league win last week Punjab now have the opportunity to think of the cups for the next two weeks.
First up is Wooton St George in the Divisional Cup this Saturday at home.

Team News sees Punjab dealt a big blow with Defender Chris Francis ruled out for 5weeks with a broken foot.

Also absent this week see Bruce Calder, Garinder Birk (unavailable) with Gary Wilson & Marcus White (both injured).

Danny Spencer, Julian Millington return to the fold this weekend after missing the last two games.

Claudio Pitra could well return if he passes a fitness test.

With new signing Robert Thompson in line to play a part after his transfer from Medbourne.

Squad:-De La Huliniere, Bhandal, Spencer, Park, Walker, Pink, Chong, Aksu, Thompson, Millington, Ofoshune, Saini(c), Logue, Pitra, Waite, Kumar, Poonia

Players and Officials to meet at CTC Corby at 1pm (Kick Off is 2pm..possible extra time and penalties)

WHAT THE EVENING TELEGRAPH HAD TO SAY...

PUNJAB IN THE PINK FOR SIX OF THE BEST

Aston Pink fired a hat trick as Punjab United struck six times in Division One of the Northants Combination.
Michael Chong, Ahmet Aksu and Sandeep Kumar were also on target in the 6-1 win over Bective Wanderers

STRIKER ARRIVES AS PUNJAB STRENGTHEN SQUAD

Punjab after weeks of discussions can confirm today they have signed Striker Robert Thompson from Medbourne FC.
"Bobby T" comes with a proven goalscoring record in the combination with previous clubs Ristee Towers for whom he was top goalscorer for ten seasons as well as a leading marksman for Medbourne where his goals gave Medbourne back to back promotions from Div 2 into the Premier Division.
Manager Amrit Poonia added "We have been discussing the opportunity to bring him in for a few weeks now and see this as a major signing that could put us amongst the front runners in the division".
The opportunity to see him link up with Chong, Pink, Millington and Aksu to name but a few should provide plenty of optimism for the season.
Punjab will now look to conclude transfer activities in the coming week with one or possibly two more signings to compliment a strong squad.

ASTON DAZZLES ON DEBUT AS PUNJAB RUN RIOT

Punjab United 6 Bective Wanderers 1

Aston Pink (3)

Sandeep Kumar

Michael Chong

Ahmet Aksu

HT 4-0

Punjab starting line up saw three changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Corby Kingfisher last week with.

The injured trio Claudio Pitra, Bruce Calder & Victor Carvalho making way for Gareth Walker, Sandeep Kumar & Debutant Aston Pink.

Punjab produced some wonderful football to see off Bective Wanderers with a resounding 6-1 win.

Sandeep Kumar got the ball rolling when a Jazz Saini corner was headed home for 1-0.

Michael Chong doubled the lead with a neat finish after being fed by Ahmet Aksu to make it 2-0.

Debutant Aston Pink then made it three by lashing the ball into the bottom right corner with a nice left foot finish to make it 3-0.

Man Of the moment Pink then beat the offside trap to flick the ball into the top left corner to finish the half time scoring at 4-0.

Pink then wrapped up his hat trick when he controlled a long kick by De La Huliniere to finish cooly for his hat trick and Punjab's 5th of the day.

Ahmet Aksu then got in on the act to make it 6-0 before a late consolation by the hosts finished the scoring at 6-1 to Punjab.
Team:- De La Huliniere, Francis, Walker, Park, Ofoshune, Pink, Logue, Saini (c), Kumar, Chongy, Aksu. (Subs:- Waite for Kumar 65 mins: Bhandal for Chong 80 mins) subs not used Poonia.

Man Of the Match:- Aston Pink - Superb performance on his debut and a stunning hat trick

TEAM NEWS FOR BECTIVE FIXTURE

Chris Francis - Confident performer

Punjab travel to Bective Wanderers this week looking to bounce back after three straight defeats.
Last weeks 2-1 reverse to league leaders Corby Kingfisher was a tough one to accept with the performance being so good.
However the late goal deflated the squad but still the lads had plenty to be confident about.
Despite some players leaving the club to play Prem Division football and reserve football the squad still boasts alot of quality.
Team news for the fixture sees the return of Shaun Waite and Gareth Walker to the squad and the possible debut of Winger Aston Pink.
Midfielder Claudio Pitra (foot), Bruce Calder (away) are both ruled out.
With Julian Millington and Danny Spencer the others not available for this one.
Squad:- De La Huliniere, Francis,Walker, Park, Ofoshune, Waite, Carvalho, Logue, Saini(c), Pink, Chong, Aksu, Bhandal, Poonia
Players and Officials to meet at Hobson Choice at 12:30pm

PUNJAB CONFIRM NEW SIGNING

Punjab have today confirmed the signing of Winger Aston Pink from Weavers Old Boys.
The club have tracked the player for over a month and finally tied up transfer.
He comes with a proven record and can operate in both wide areas as well as a striker.
Weavers were very reluctant to let him go so it proves how highly he is rated.
Punjab are delighted to have him on board and he will go straight into the squad for the visit to Bective Wanderers this coming Saturday.
However Punjab are now looking to conclude at least two more signings in the coming weeks to further strengthen there squad.

FORTUNATE LATE GOAL DENIES PUNJAB

Punjab United 1 Corby Kingfisher Athletic 2

Michael Chong

HT 0-1

Punjab produced a fantastic display of well organised football only to be denied late on by a fortunate goal by Corby Kingfisher Athletic.

Punjab produced some hard working football in the early exchanges only to fall behind to a goal that was converted from a corner, though the scorer seemed to have handled it into the net for 0-1.

Punjab came out in the second half and were deservedly level when Ahmet Aksu on his return to the side after 19 months out flicked the ball into Michael Chong who albeit a slight mix up in the defence put enough pressure on the defender to put Punjab level.

Claudio Pitra was denied what looked a clear cut penalty.

With 10 minutes to go Kingfisher got the winner when a fizzing shot was tipped onto the bar by De La Huliniere only to see it fall to the Kingfisher striker who rolled it into the net for 1-2.

Overall a good performance with very little reward to show for a very spirited performance.

Team:- De La Huliniere, Calder, Saini(c), Park, Ofoshune, Carvalho, Francis, Pitra, Logue, Chong, Aksu (subs:- Kumar for Aksu 70mins: Poonia for Carvalho 88 mins) sub not used Bhandal.

Man Of The Match:- Jazz Saini - Outstanding at the back

TEAM NEWS FOR VISIT OF CORBY KINGFISHER ATHLETIC

Winger...Victor Carvalho

Punjab entertain Corby Kingfisher Athletic this week who have started very brightly with 2 wins.
Team news see Gareth Walker, Danny Spencer, Garinder Birk, and Julian Millington missing out this week.
However Skipper Jaspal Saini is back in contention as is returning midfielder Michael Logue.
Bruce Calder, Sandeep Kumar and Ahmet Aksu are also added to the squad.
Punjab are waiting to hear if the transfer of Aston Pink has gone through aswell.
Squad:- De La Huliniere, Bhandal, Aksu, Ofoshune, Calder, Francis, Pitra, Park, Saini(c), Logue, Kumar, Carvalho, Chong, Poonia.
Players and Officials to meet at CTC Corby at 1.30pm - (kick Off 14:30pm)

POOR PUNJAB WELL BEATEN BY QUEEN ELEANOR

Punjab United 0 Queen Eleanor 4

HT 0-1

Punjab turned in probably there worst performance in the last few years to lose 4-0 to a well organised Queen Eleanor side.

Punjab helped the hosts on the way by netting two own goals before Q.E. put the finishing touches with two late goals to take the points.

Team:- De La Huliniere, Waite, Spencer, Park, Ofoshune, Pitra, Francis, Carvalho, Millington Chong, Walker.

(Subs:- Birk for Francis 35 mins: Singh for Waite 82 mins)