This PDFL, Premier Division game was abandoned after a nasty second half clash of heads led to Pinchbeck goalkeeper Joe Ashton being taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Ashton, who had collided with Langtoft debutant Josh Hales, came off worse but, much to everyone's relief, he has since made a full recovery. Said Langtoft boss Ryan Hunnings: "I am pleased he has made a full recovery as it is never nice when a player gets injured. I didn't see the clash as it happened off the ball but players from both teams were quick to rush or his aid."

As for the football played, after a tough run, where results haven’t been what the Vikings had expected, Saturday heralded a fresh start.

Three of last season’s first team returned, Daryl Todd, James Duffy and Callum Fox making their entry in an effort to rediscover last season’s Viking spirit.

Early on the ploy seemed to work. Vikings looked recharged and hungry again. They were first to every loose ball and all were winning their individual battles.

Jobi Froud and Dan Morris commanded the middle of the field and the defence stood tall. For the first time in three weeks, Vikings were playing on the front foot and the game was being played in the Pinchbeck half.

Sam Thompson and Lewis Bradley were having lots of luck down their wings and it would be from a Thommo set piece that the Vikings would break the deadline. He swung a perfectly flighted corner into the path of Thomas Retzlaff, who powered a header into the roof of the next from six yards - well-deserved lead.

Vikings weren’t done there. From the very next corner, they had the same outcome, again Thommo found Retz for 2-0. The visiting side were pegged back by half time, Pinchbeck this time benefitting from a corner.

The second half started with the expected Pinchbeck onslaught, but again the Vikings defence stood tall putting their bodies on the line in order to keep their lead intact,

Steven Slack must have gone home covered in bruises. Unfortunately, just as it had looked as though Vikings had weathered the storm, came the injury to Joe Ashton.

Of the Langoft performance, Hunnings commented: "We played like Vikings again today, which was all we asked of them before the game. We know we’ve got a lot of talent in our squad this season.

"We've maybe let ourselves down with regards to the effort previously, but on Saturday we were back to our best. We’ve just added James Brattan to the management team, I worked with him at ICA, and it’s great to have him with me again. He adds a lot of footballing experience and I think lads will benefit from that."

Langtoft: Andrew Isabell, Jamie Warner, Steven Slack, Daryl Toddy, Thomas Retzlaff, Lewis Bradley, Jobi Froud ©, Dan Morris, Sam Thompson, Scott Spearink, Josh Hales. Subs: Edvinas Jasaitis, James Duffy, Callum Fox.