FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
Peterborough Sports & Leisure Club, Peterborough
Admission: £9.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 404
Match Rating: 3
I had originally kept this day free to take in the Western League Ground Hop, taking in four games in a day in the Bristol area. Much as I enjoyed my previous experience of the Western League groundhop, an over 400 mile round trip by car, and with rain forecast to fall most of the day, meant that I changed my mind in favour of a double in Peterborough, enabled by this game kicking off at 12.30 to allow for the BBC to show it live online and via the Red Button.
After filling up with a not particularly nice vegetarian breakfast at the College Arms Wetherspoons, I then embarked on the half hour, one and a half mile walk northwards to the ground - it is an almost identical distance from the train station. After walking down a short lane and then between the clubhouse and a beer garden, spectators then pay their admission at a small kiosk, before entering the ground by the half way line. To the right, towards the corner was a low and quite long all-seater stand, whilst to the left of the entrance there is a small wooden garden shed from where refreshments are sold, and on the back wall, not only was the team sheet displayed, but paper copies could also be taken. A disabled area and a toilet block filled the space up to the corner flag, beyond which there is a fairly new looking stand covering a few terrace steps, stretching almost to the goal. There is just hard standing around the rest of the ground. It is a neat and tidy ground, although it feels functional rather than having character. The 36 page programme had a water resistant cover, and was a good effort, full of interesting information and articles to read about the club's big day, and more than enough stats and facts.
It was little wonder that the BBC chose this game to broadcast live, with both teams in great form, yet still it would be a major shock were the home team to win. Peterborough Sports, having only entered senior football in 2012, were promoted into the Northern League last season, before transferring into the Southern League Division One Central for this season, and are doing very well doing this season, in third place with four wins and a draw from their opening five league games. They have successfully negotiated three rounds to reach this stage - Stamford in a replay in the Preliminary Round, then Basildon United away, and Boston United away. Today would be a really tough assignment for them though, facing a team in Chorley that are two steps above them in the pyramid, in the National League North, which they are leading by seven points, having won nine and drawn two of their 11 league games. Indeed, they are unbeaten in all competitions so far this season, having beaten Leek Town 3-0 at home in the last round of the FA Cup.
On a horrible day weatherwise - with drizzle, a gusty wind and a very chilly feel to the gloomy proceedings, Peterborough Sports did well to stay in the game during the first half, as they battled well, but it was very apparent from an early stage that there was a gulf in class between the two teams. After hitting the woodwork, seeing shots blocked, forcing some very good saves from the keeper, and having a couple of goalbound shots cleared off the line, it felt like it being only a matter of time until the visitors would take the lead, and they duly did on 33 minutes with a super individual goal, Adam Blakeman receiving the ball by the outer edge of the penalty area, taking a touch before floating the ball over the keeper and into the net, to send the decent contingent of Chorley fans who had made the long trip south west into celebrations. The game then had a bit of a quiet spell, and the home side had a great chance to equalise just before the interval, when the Angelino Viera's powerful close range shot forced a terrific save from the keeper with his legs. And indeed, despite Chorley's dominance for long periods in the first half, the home side were still very much in the game at the break.
The second half was a different story however, as Chorley doubled their lead on 48 minutes and went on to see the game out very comfortably. It was an unfortunate goal for the underdogs to concede - an inswinging corner by Blakeman went straight into the net - whether the keeper misjudged it, or he was impeded, or whether it was a little of both, was the debate. In a rare chance for the home side, Lewis Hilliard curled a free kick just over the corner of bar and post. A rather comical moment came midway through the half when a male streaker (only his top half was bare, though) ran across the pitch with a handbag, hugged a player, before climbing the perimeter fence - dropping his hand bag in the process, and needing somebody to pass it up to him in the process, before making his escape. The inevitable third arrived for Chorley on 74 minutes, when Marcus Carver ran onto a low throughball before slotting the ball under the keeper and into the net. Even though the game was dead by now in terms of the outcome, it continued to be entertaining as Peterborough did their best to grab a consolation goal.
So a convincing away win, which reflected the gulf in class between the two teams, but Peterborough Sports should be happy with how things went on their big day, with a club record attendance, a good performance from the team, and the organisation off the pitch could not be faulted - it was just a shame that the weather conditions were so poor.
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