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Peterborough League Premier review: Cliffe go through but Peacock breaks leg
ONE of the finest moments in the history of Kings Cliffe was soured by a serious injury.
The Premier Division table-toppers booked their place in the Northants Junior Cup for the first time with a 4-2 extra-time success over Northants Combination League side Weldon United on Saturday.
But Cliffe’s celebrations were tempered by losing goalkeeper Lee Peacock to a broken leg sustained when falling awkwardly after making a save.
Kings Cliffe boss Alex Brown, who guided Eye United to this county honour back in 2005, said: “It is fantastic for the club to be through to the final and it will be even better if we can go all the way.
“It was a great feeling to win it as Eye manager a few years ago, but we were in the UCL at the time so this would rank as a much bigger achievement.
“We played well against the best team we have faced in the competition and definitely deserved to win the game.
“We’re all just gutted for Lee to pick up such a bad injury. He’s been told he faces six weeks in plaster so it will pretty much end his season.”
Cliffe fell behind in the second half but an Andrew Bradley leveller took the tie to extra-time - and that’s where the locals took control thanks to a Gary Gibbs brace and an Adam Bevilacqua strike.
Star will meet higher-level side Bugbrooke of the United Counties League Division One in the final later in the season.
And while there was delight for Cliffe, there was county despair for Pinchbeck.
They crashed out of the Lincs Junior Cup at the semi-final stage for the second successive season.
Pinchbeck were beaten 2-1 at Market Rasen Town with the decisive goal arriving deep into stoppage time.
Player-boss Ian Dunn, who scored his side’s second-half equaliser, said: “I’m absolutely gutted. We bossed the game but ran out of ideas in the final third.
“They weren’t a good side which makes it all the more disappointing.
“It couldn’t have worked out any worse. We’ve missed out on a big final and wasted several Saturdays in our season getting this far.”
Pinchbeck will have to bounce back quickly as they face another big semi-final this weekend when taking on Eye Sports in the PFA Senior Cup.
n EYE Sports boss Gino Agius reckons ace goalscorer Jamie Graham is back to his best.
Graham delivered a two-goal masterclass as the title hopefuls won 3-1 at Deeping Rangers Reserves to move level with long-time leaders Kings Cliffe. It was his best display since joining the club late last year.
Agius said: “Jamie had flattered to deceive in his first few games for us, but he had been struggling with a leg injury.
“He’s over that now and on Saturday he was a joy to watch. In fact I would say he was unplayable.”
Juliano Menezes scored the other Eye goal with Tom Waumsley striking for Deeping.
n COATES chief Gary Munns didn’t exactly dish out the plaudits for hat-trick hero Mark Newton on Saturday.
Newton’s haul helped secure a 4-2 success at Peterborough Sports. Mick Gale had set the ball rolling.
“It was the worst hat-trick you’ll ever see,” said Munns. “The combined distance of his goals won’t even be 10 yards!”
Coates led 3-0 before a Lewis McManus effort and a Giuliano Staffieri screamer pulled Sports back into contention, but Newton had the last laugh.
Sports boss Chris Bartlett claimed his side were on the receiving end of a ‘smash and grab’. He said: “We battered them and ended up losing.”
n RAMSEY captain Dan Edwards delivered a goal-of-the-season contender while helping himself to a Saturday hat-trick.
Edwards found the net with a spectacular overhead kick during his side’s 5-1 romp against 10-man Oundle.
“It was an absolute cracker,” said manager Paul Taylor. “It’s the best goal we’ve scored all season and I doubt there has been one better anywhere.”
A header and a penalty completed Edwards’ treble. Youngster Elliott Cafferkey and Alex Mitchell got the others.
Oundle had Chris Beeby dismissed for collecting two early cautions (one for a foul, the other for speaking out of turn to the official) but managed to haul themselves level through Mark Taylor before going down to defeat.
Boss Barry Gregory said: “We were only 2-1 down going into the last 10 minutes and still had hopes of getting a draw, but their third goal knocked the stuffing out of our lads.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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