SPORTS HIT EIGHT IN FA CUP VICTORY OVER GORLESTON

PETERBOROUGH SPORTS 8 V GORLESTON 0
FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND @ PARKWAY
6 AUGUST 2016 --- 3PM

A dominant performance from UCL Premier side Peterborough Sports saw them progress with 4 goals in each half against their visitors from the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Premier League.  The victory was further enhanced by two hat tricks firstly from Mark Jones and then livewire Avi Viera sadly although Gorleston never gave up they could not earn a consolation goal and it was Sports who progressed to the next round alongside a cheque for £1,500.
So as ever when the football starts there is always a dilemma of whether to continue with the rugby league and although I hope to cover some more oval ball games todays attractive fixture was a pull.  Having failed to get to see Peterborough Sports last season with the constant rain leading to a cautious approach of not making the long journey and today the chance to see a side from the Eastern Counties League it was to be all systems go.  Let season 2016/17 begin and where better than the hot bed of football Cambridgeshire.
Arrival at base station saw trains start to delay and with the journey today around about 1 3/4 hours without a change I was hoping for a smooth travel.  Of course as the train came up 5 minutes then 7 minutes before reaching 9 minutes late and then train delayed I started to wonder if I'm getting to old for this!  The announcement was then followed by train delayed by 'disruptive passengers', happy days.  The service rolled in around 10 minutes later with of course 2 carriages that were rammed with suitcases some people making family holiday trips to Skegness and others on for the whole journey to Norwich before changing for the delights of Great Yarmouth, which is of course the major town right by the side of todays away side Gorleston [on sea].  After the bulk of excited kids and stressed out parents departed for the seaside at Grantham the train calmed and we were soon pulling into Peterborough.  After a moments thought about taking a look around the city I decided I had seen the place many times before and opted for a walk out to the ground of around 25 minutes.  The route avoided the noisy nearby dual carriageway travelling via the railway cycle path and finishing on Bourges Boulevard, the latter word may give you thoughts of a delightful walk through a modern city but let your thoughts stop there its a functional route that brings you to Lincoln Road a small shopping area.

LINCOLN ROAD SHOPPING AREA BY THE GROUND

Having found little in the area to interest me I opted to enter the ground and having seen a game to the far side of the ground I had plenty of time to have a look around.
Back then to the main Parkway ground and the clubhouse is outside and amazingly has not 1 but 4 pool tables plus a large screen showing the horse racing.  A cold refreshing lemonade on this warm afternoon went down very well before securing todays teams from both sides secretaries, handily Sports display the teams on the 'refreshment hut' too.

The approach to the turnstile is via a paved garden area with a small selection of bedding plants beautifying the area, the walkway to the turnstile brings you into the ground at the back of the dugouts which are side by side and too the left a raised concrete area and top side again the aforementioned refreshment hut, sadly no hot food but cold drinks and warm drinks with chocolate bars and crisps were available.  We then walk past the changing rooms to do a circuit of the ground which has a  concrete walkway all round with advertising boards and blue meshes material separating the match ball from the spectator side.  As we come back to our original entry point the main focus of the ground is The Colin Day Stand which is an impressive 2/3rds seated area with the other 1/3 standing, all undercover.  Sadly the ground did not operate a PA system, not sure whether they normally do but otherwise it is a smart and functional ground which appears well looked after.
Todays game features Gorleston who are a week into their season and it looked like a good game in prospect with Sports winning silverware galore last season and hoping to have a go for the UCL Premiership title his season.  As ever I wont go into the history of the clubs but hopefully take the blog straight into the game, a long journey for Gorleston would see them need to get off too a good start.

EARLY TEA FOR SPORTS MANAGER JIMMY DEAN

Sadly for the visitors they were 3 down within 11 minutes and it appeared to be game over, firstly on 7 minutes Josh Moreman headed home at the back post before the lead was doubled 3 minutes later when Dan Clements turned in a left wing cross.  It looked like it was game over after 11 minutes when Avi Viera burst through on the inside left and drove into the far right hand corner of the visitors goal.
Gorleston were battling hard but could not get a foothold they were spared any more goals until 31 minutes when Viera turned supplier for Mark Jones to slot home.

Sports were probably a little guilty of some missed chances but went in 4 goals to the good.  The half time saw the visitors their 3 substitutes and the home side replace their now injured keeper.

SPORTS DAN CLEMENTS ON THE BALL

The warm afternoon saw the game lose a little of its pace until on 61 minutes it became 5-0 through a slick move which saw David Cobb set up Jones for his second.  Hat trick time arrived for Jones on 67 minutes with a lovely deflective finish.  A succession of missed chances and frustrating offside calls limited the home sides chances to extend the home sides lead but 2 late goals allowed Viera to get his hat trick with 4 minutes remaining he broke through and rounded the visiting keeper before on 88 minutes confidently firing home from the penalty spot after Cobb had been fouled to make it 8-0 to the Cambridgeshire side.

SPORTS VIERA IS DENIED

Referee Lander called a halt to proceedings soon after and a sharp walk reversing out outbound route found the blog with 10 minutes to attempt to get some now much needed food from the Waitrose adjacent to the station.  The journey back to base was all round more comfortable and arrive was secured just shy of 1930hrs.

REFEREE LANDER ISSUES A LATE CAUTION FOR ROSS GOODMAN OF GORLESTON

A steady little day out with Peterborough Sports an early season tip as one to watch in this seasons UCL Premier division I guess they wont be far off as for Gorleston they came up against a very good side and probably had a bad day at the office at the same time too.