Sponsored by
Fletton manager rues biggest collapse ever
AFC Fletton boss Ian Rudd has dubbed their Peterborough League Premier Division title slump as being 'the biggest collapse ever'.
AFC Fletton boss Ian Rudd has dubbed their Peterborough League Premier Division title slump as being 'the biggest collapse ever'.Rudd is resigned to missing out on the title after his stumbling team drew 0-0 at Deeping Sports on Saturday.
Fletton have only picked up four points from a possible 15 in their last five matches – a disappointing run which has allowed Ramsey to take control at the top of the table.
Fletton have now dropped to third position. They are below Rutland Rangers by virtue of an inferior goal difference with both teams trailing Ramsey by three points.
Rudd admitted: "We have run out of steam and luck at the wrong time. We haven't been taking our chances while conceding at the other end.
"It is really disappointing because everyone knew what I expected this season and that was to win the league – I'm not going to lie about that.
"We have picked up 10 points out of a possible 12 against Ramsey and Rutland but have dropped too many points elsewhere. We now need Ramsey to slip up twice but we also have to be in a position to take advantage if that happens."
Rival keepers Tim Hudson of Fletton and Deeping's Lee Peacock took centre stage in the Saturday stalemate.
Deeping were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when Ryan Birtles was dismissed for a tackle on Joe Duffy.
Deeping boss Alex Brown, who used to play alongside Rudd at Perkins and also for Sunday morning side Royal Oak, admitted: "I'm a bit embarrassed to have drawn against a top team chasing the title after some of the displays we have put in lately.
"But our level of performance was back to where it should always be against Fletton."
RUTLAND jumped back into second spot after showing rock-bottom Peterborough Sports no mercy.
Michael Nelson hit a hat-trick with brother Richard, Jamie Saddington and Aaron Ridout all bagging braces in a 9-1 rout. Ridout can normally be found at the heart of Bourne Town's defence but is now leading the Rutland forward line after the conclusion of the Wakes' season.
Rutland boss Andy Saddington said: "We are back in second and I will be a happy man if we can stay there."
Rutland have received another boost with hot-shot Robbie Pearce returning to this country tomorrow after several months spent travelling in Australia.
But the future looks bleaker for Sports who are still four points from safety with only two matches remaining.
Boss Lee Brown missed the Rutland clash due to illness, but club official Roger Martin insists relegation will not be a complete disaster.
He said: "The object of the exercise was to keep the club going and we have managed that. It has been a struggle on the pitch and we have to be realistic in saying that it is going to be tough to get oursleves off the bottom now.
"I don't think relegation would be the end of the world though."MOULTON Harrox are on the charge.
The Lincs lads haven't lost in 2009 and continued their sizzling form with a 6-1 destruction of Wimblington Saturday.
Steve Paling struck twice with Lee Hudson, Steve Sinfield, Nigel Steadman and Joe Townsend also finding the net. Kieran Daplyn hit the Wimblington consolation with a smart free-kick.
Co-boss Paul Kent has led his side into fourth place and said: "We are playing with confidence and picking up results, but we are ruing playing so poorly earlier in the season when we dropped a lot of points.
"We challenged the lads to recover from a bad September and October to get into the top four and we look like doing that.
"The main thing now is keeping our momentum going for the PFA Senior Cup final."
It was a disappointing end to the campaign for Wimblington whose boss Chris Bartlett is adamant next season will be his last with the club.
He said: "I have done 14 seasons at Wimblington and been manager for nine. Next season will definitely be my last but I will stay in football after that and look for a new challenge."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.