CITY of Peterborough guaranteed themselves a fifth-place finish after the traditional National North Division thriller against Stourport at Bretton Gate.

The three previous clashes between the sides had generated 29 goals so 10 more in a feast of attacking hockey came as no real surprise.

City started brightly and stormed into a 2-0 thanks to powerful reverse stick shots from Scott Beach and Scott Gilmour.

Stourport, who started the day in third place, responded before the break, but two goals in the opening stages of the second period from Beach and Alex Boxall finished the game as a contest, if not a spectacle.

The visitors pulled a goal back before two goals from Sean Gilmour saw City sprint out of sight. Stourport scored from a penalty stroke in the latter stages, but City had the last word.

Beach was denied a hat-trick when his fierce short corner shot rattled the crossbar with such ferocity the goal moved, but Kalbir Takher was on hand to convert the rebound.

City have improved their finishing position by one place compared to last season.