Competition: Four Leagues Trophy
Tuesday 27th October 2009 played @ Focus Centre

Peterborough & District League - 3
Goalscorers - Gibbs (2), Pearce
Northants Combination - 1
Goalscorers - Adam Knight

TWO goals either side of half-time from Gary Gibbs gave the Peterborough & District League side victory over a Northamptonshire Combination side ravaged by illness.

It was the first meeting of the sides in several years and events went in favour of the hosts. The win was not as comfortable as the scoreline suggested with the visitors guilty of wasting several clear opportunities. The visitors were the first to break clear with Matt McClyment striking the post early on as the visitors bossed the opening 10 minutes of the game. However, weathering the early storm and coming through unscathed gave the Peterborough League side confidence and they broke the deadlock on 14 minutes after superb midfield support play. Gary Gibbs scored the first of his two goals, wriggling free of his marker to fire home a low shot.

The Combination side were fortunate not to concede a second immediately after the restart as the Peterborough League surged forward. A fine one handed stop from Aaron Evans prevented Gibbs from doubling his sides tally. 11 minutes later the Peterborough League went two up, Robbie Pearce driving the ball in left footed from just inside the area after a corner had not been properly cleared.

Shortly before half time, captain Adam Knight capitalised on an error in the Peterborough defence to score. The Peterborough ‘keeper palmed a misdirected header from his own defender straight to Knight, giving him the easiest chance of the night.

Soon after half time the Peterborough League thought they were going 3-1 up but Gibbs’ header rebounded from the post into the grateful arms of Evans. The hosts were not to be denied however as 5 minutes later Gibbs netted his second with a strong downward header. Evans was injured in the build-up and was subsequently substituted. 

The hosts took their foot off the gas somewhat after this and were almost punished when McClyment took advantage of more confusion in the penalty area, but his shot went wide. He was then gifted a second opportunity, picking up the ball from the resulting goal kick, but again could not find the target.

Midway through the half, the hosts should have gone 4-1 up. A fine attacking move created a 5 man overlap but the chance was squandered with the ball being fired towards the burger van rather than the goal. There was one caution apiece late on, but the game was over as a contest, with the Peterborough League the victors.

For a minute by minute account of the key incidents see below:

1 min    The Peterborough League kick off in their all blue kit. The MDH Northamptonshire Combination side are in orange and are shooting towards the clubhouse end.

2 mins -          The Combination line up 4-4-2. Aaron Evans in goal, a back four of Jimmy Reece, Wayne Partridge, Captain Adam Knight, and Niel Dolman. Daniel O’Neill, Stuart Clarke, Liam Butcher and Matt Judge make up the midfield, while Matt McClyment and Carl Barrick lead the line.

4 mins – The first chance of the game falls to McClyment. Everybody stops expecting to hear the ripple of nylon on leather but the ball rebounds from the inside of the post. The tall Peterborough centre-half reacts quickest and smashes it clear.

11 mins – Butcher is tripped out on the right hand side. The referee initially saw nothing wrong but the kick is signalled by the assistant. The ball is floated over but the keeper takes it calmly. His throw out goes harmlessly out of play. The Combination side are dominating things at the moment, with the Peterborough defence working hard.

14 mins          GOAL! Peterborough 1 – 0 Combination. The hosts seem to have taken heart from their stout resistance and had begun to push the Combination side onto the back foot. A string of midfield passes led to a low cross. Gary Gibbs controlled the ball right footed and drove it in low. Evans had no chance.

15 mins – It’s all Peterborough at the moment. Almost straight from the kick off, possession is given away with Gary Gibbs again breaking clear, but a smart one handed save in the air from Evans keeps him at bay, and the score at 1-0. The resulting corner is wasted.

16 mins – That could have been 1-1. Carl Barrick picks up the ball in the centre of the area, but he’s always stretching and can do no more than toe-end it past the post. Surely the equaliser is coming?

19 mins – After that frenetic period things have slowed down. A couple of free-kicks for niggly fouls, but nothing much else.

25 mins  GOAL! Peterborough 2 – 0 Combination. The second goal of the night goes to the hosts.  Good forward support play from Gibbs sets up Robbie Pearce. A corner is swung in and only partially cleared. Gibbs receives the ball and plays it square into the path of Pearce. His rising left footed shot is unstoppable.

32 mins – Peterborough are comfortably on top at the moment. Any attempt at an attack is snuffed out straight away.

37 mins  GOAL! Peterborough 2 – 1 Combination. They’re back in it! A dangerous cross comes in from the right, after a half-cleared corner and confusion reigns. The Peterborough centre-back can’t decide whether to head to his keeper or clear. He elects to go to the keeper but hits it too hard. The keeper can only parry and Adam Knight charges in to head the ball home.

38 mins – Déjà vu time as the Peterborough League get a taste of their own medicine. They’re robbed of possession just after kicking off but the breakaway attack fails to produce a goal.

HALF TIME  Peterborough League 2 – 1 MDH Northants Combination. Good chances for both sides, but the hosts are ahead and certainly look comfortable. They also have a strong looking bench which may tell later in the game. Time for a hot drink!

46 mins – We’re back underway with the Combination kicking off. The burger van did a roaring trade at half-time and the scent wafts up to the far end. Yummy!

47 mins – This time it’s the host’s turn to hit the woodwork. A sharp piece of play sees a pull back from the byline float over. Gibbs meets it with a header which rebounds off the far post and into the welcoming arms of Evans

50 mins - Wave after wave of attacking play from the Peterborough League smashes into the Combination defence. The hosts are definitely on top at the moment.

53 mins     GOAL! Peterborough 3 – 0 Combination. The domination of the game is telling and the Peterborough side get their reward. It’s Gary Gibbs again, this time with a bullet header downward. Wayne Partridge tries to clear but thumps the ball into the roof of the net. The assistant awards the goal before he made contact anyway.

56 mins – It’s as you were with the Peterborough League content to sit back on their two goal cushion. Changes for either side are made, with goalkeeper Evans going off for the visitors. That doesn’t look good.

63 mins – McClyment is something of a live-wire upfront. A surging run into the area and he plays the ball to the keeper’s left. His despairing dive can’t reach it, but the ball trickles agonisingly wide of the upright.

64 mins – McClyment should really have punished that mistake. A lack of communication between keeper and defenders means he can pick up the ball straight from the goal kick, but again the ball goes the wrong side of the stick.

69 mins – Matt Judge takes his turn to get forward, cutting in from the wing. His low drive is somehow tipped wide by the keeper who seemed beaten. The resulting corner drops straight into his arms and the pressure is off.

71 mins – Another defensive mix-up almost allowed the Combination back into it. A misplaced back pass has the keeper desperately scrambling across his goal, but it goes safe over the dead ball line. Relief all round for the Peterborough league.

72 mins – A decent take and release from the keeper after the corner sees the Peterborough League with a breakaway attack. A five man overlap ensues, yet no-one seems to want to have a go at goal. When the shot does come in, it’s well wide, heading for the burger van. Must be hungry!

81 mins   An unnecessary scuffle on the edge of the Peterborough area sees a caution apiece. Ian Christine for Peterborough and Carl Barrick for the Combination.

FULL TIME Peterborough & District League  3 – 1  MDH Northants Combination. Well that’s it, victory for the hosts and on balance a deserved result. They were able to put out a full strength side and in the end this told. Credit must be given to the Combination side who although weakened by illness still fought well. Onwards and upwards is the way forward, and perhaps a better result can be ensured in the return fixture.

Team: Aaron Evans (Brixworth All Saints), Jimmy Reece (Roade), Wayne Partridge (Wboro Ranelagh),  Adam Knight (Brixworth All Saints), Stuart Clarke (Harpole), Joe Judge (Ranelagh), Carl Barrick (Harpole), Daniel O'Neill (Wollaston Victoria),  Liam Butcher (Kislingbury), Neil Dolman (Brixworth All Saints), Matt McClyment (Corby Madisons),  Liam Leonard (Wboro Ranelagh).