ROUND-UP: Peterborough Sports win a thriller, hat-trick heroes galore, multiple red cards

Action from Peterborough Sports Reserves' 2-1 PFA Senior Cup quarter-final win over Stamford Lions (yellow). Photo: David Lowndes.

Karl Gibbs fired Sports in front, but Jake Walton equalised before the break for the Lions.

Referee Reg Parker then dismissed Sports’ striker Ricki Goodale for violent conduct, but the 10-men went in front after the break through substitute Carl Bird. Lions’ Joseph Smedley was sent off in injury time.

Sports, who are top of the Peterborough Premier Division, now join top-flight rivals ICA Sports and Pinchbeck as well as First Division Warboys Town in the semi-finals.

Gary Gibbs of Peterborough Sports Reserces (red) waits to pounce in the game against Stamford Lions. Photo: David Lowndes.

Sports’ title rivals all took advantage of their cup commitments, with Pinchbeck, Moulton Harrox and Netherton United all closing the gap at the top.

Second-placed Pinchbeck had prolific marksman Ollie Maltby to thank for their 4-3 win over Deeping Rangers Reserves. Maltby bagged all four goals to take his tally to an impressive 45 goals in 23 matches.

Much-travelled Daniel Woods also grabbed a hat-trick in a 4-2 win for Moulton Harrox over Leverington, while substitute Tom Randall was on target twice as Netherton overcame bottom club Uppingham 6-0. Randall is the second highest scorer in the Premier Division, but has 18 fewer goals than Maltby.

William Bird returned to Ketton from Deeping Rangers last week and celebrated with a hat-trick in a 5-0 win at fading AFC Stanground Sports, while Thorney’s steady improvement continued with a 2-1 success at Holbeach United in a stormy encounter.

Action from Peterborough Sports Reserves v Stamford Lions at PSL. Photo: David Lowndes.

The hosts led at the break, but collected three red cards from referee James Truman in the second-half, including star striker Tom Gosling, as goals from George Edwards and Sam Donohoe turned the match in Thorney’s favour. Donohoe made it two goals in two games since switching from Riverside thanks to the successful conversion of a last-minute penalty.

Crowland’s poor form under new manager Ian McIntosh continued as they slipped to a 3-0 reverse at fellow strugglers Stilton United. Ritchie Baines scored twice for Stilton who have relegated Crowland to next-to-bottom in the table.

Zak Fisher was another hat-trick hero as Sawtry beat Wisbech Town Reserves 4-3.

In other cup action Division Three side Brotherhood Sports set up an all Peterborough League Final against Bretton North End in the Northants Area Cup by winning 2-0 in their delayed semi-final at Byfield Tigers.

A midfield tussle during Peterborough Sports Reserves (red) win over Stamford Lions. Photo: David Lowndes.

Bretton remain in top form. They crushed Whittlesey Athletic B 10-0 in a PFA Junior Cup tie with James Cox claiming three goals.

There was a shock defeat for Eye United in the same competition though. They went down 3-0 to Rutland Dead Rabbits.

AFC Stanground Sports Reserves won a cup tie at Tydd St Mary for the second Saturday in succession. Dean Giglio’s treble set up a 4-0 win this time around.

The city side are already through to the final of the Intermediate Shield where they will face Farcet United. Farcet lost their semi-final 10-0 to Ramsey on February 11, but the Rams have been thrown out for fielding an ineligible player in that tie.

NORTHANTS AREA CUP

Semi-final

Byfield Tigers 0, Brotherhood Sports 2.

PFA SENIOR CUP

Quarter-final:

Peterborough Sports Res (Bird, K. Gibbs), Stamford Lions 1 (Walton).

PFA CHALLENGE CUP

Tydd St Mary 0 AFC Stanground Sports Res 4 (Giglio 3, Rice).

PFA JUNIOR CUP

Bretton North End 10 (Cox 3, Bass 2, Fiddes 2, Flatters, Waites, Worley), Whittlesey Athletic ‘B’ 0.

Eye United 0, Rutland DR 3.

PFA MINOR CUP

Orton Rangers 0, AFC Stanground Sports B 0 (Orton won 8-7 on penalties).

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH LEAGUE

Premier Division

AFC Stanground Sports 0, Ketton 5 (Bird 3, Betts, Rawlinson)

Holbeach United Res 1, Thorney 2 (Edwards. Donohoe)

Moulton Harrox 4 (Woods 3, Townsend) Leverington Sports 2 (Bunton, Newton)

ICA Sports 2 (Wayte 2), Langtoft United 0

Pinchbeck United 4 (Maltby 4), Deeping Rangers Res 3

Stilton United 3 (Baines 2, Rodden), Crowland Town 0

Uppingham Town 0, Netherton United 6 (Randall 2, Kerrison, Scott, Panting, Akbar).

Wisbech Town Res 3, Sawtry 4 (Fisher 3, Simpson).

Chairman’s Shield:

Stamford Belvedere v Oakham United Res

Wittering Harriers 1, Warboys Town 2 (B. Duncan, M. Cafferkey).

North Cambs Junior Cup

Whittlesey Athletic Res 7 (Carter 2, Hailstone 2, Flintoft 2, Gilbert), Wisbech St Mary ‘A’ 0.