NON-LEAGUE: Dean demands a second team of entertainers in the city

It’s been a strong start to the season for the outstanding local semi-professional club who followed an 8-0 FA Cup win over Gorleston last weekend (August 6) with a 3-0 win at Wisbech Town in their first fixture as a United Counties Premier Division club on Tuesday (August 11).

Sports are most people’s bankers for the top-flight title having assembled another high-class squad for this standard of football.

And they will be pushed to their limits by demanding boss Dean.

“We got sucked into a typical long-ball UCL game for the first part of the game at Wisbech,” Dean admitted.

“I told the lads we don’t need to get involved in that. We have good players who can play great football and that’s what I want to see. We need to be brave in possession.

“We’ve had a great start to the season, but that’s all it is.

“We can play better and we have some good players to come back into the squad.”

Sports will travel to Fenland Park again on Saturday. August 20 when tackling Wisbech in the preliminary round of the FA Cup.

“Team selection is going to be really tough this season,” Dean added. “Jordan Mcleod and Luke McShane haven’t played yet because of injury.”

McShane’s absence has led to a goalkeeping issue at Sports who have used six number ones in matches since starting their friendly campaign. New signing Josh Bennis came off injured at half-time against Gorleston forcing Dean to borrow Spalding’s reserve ‘keeper Sam Vince for the game at Wisbech.

Vince will probably start a Premier Division match at Harborough tomorrow (August 13).

AFC Stamford and Spalding United start their Evo Stik Division One South campaigns tomorrow.

Stamford, who were relegated from the Northern Premier Division last season, host Witton, while Spalding travel to Bedworth.

The teams warmed up by playing each other in a Lincs Senior Trophy semi-final at the Zeeco Stadium last weekend which Stamford won 2-1 thanks to superb strikes from Jordan Smith and David Bell.

Daniels manager Graham Drury said: “If we keep clean sheets we will have a great chance of going straight back up.

“We’ve been a bit sloppy at the back in pre-season on occasions and we have to cut the silly errors out.”

Stamford will play Lincoln United in the final of the Trophy on a date to be arranged.

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Saturday, August 13

EVO-STIK LEAGUE

Division One South: Bedworth United v Spalding United, Stamford v Witton Albion.

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Premier Division: Cogenhoe United v Holbeach United, Deeping Rangers v Northampton Sileby Rangers, Harborough Town v Peterborough Sports, Huntingdon Town v Kirby Muxloe, Leicester Nirvana v Wisbech Town, Peterborough Northern Star v Rothwell Corinthians, Yaxley v Desborough Town.

Division One: Blackstones v Raunds Town, Buckingham Town v Whittlesey Athletic, Lutterworth Athletic v Bourne Town.

THURLOW NUNN EASTERN LEAGUE

Division One: March Town United v Halstead Town, Woodbridge Town v Wisbech St Mary.

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH LEAGUE

Premier Division: Holbeach United Res v Stilton United, Ketton v Crowland Town, Leverington Sports v AFC Stanground Sports, Netherton United v Thorney, ICA Sports v Moulton Harrox, Peterborough Sports Res v Langtoft, Sawtry v Pinchbeck United, Uppingham v Deeping Rangers Res, Wisbech Town Res v Stamford Lions.

Division One: Baston v Netherton United Res, Kings Cliffe v Sutton Bridge United, Oundle Town v Glinton & Northborough, Peterborough Polonia FC v Long Sutton Athletic, Spalding United Res v Oakham United Res, Stamford Belvedere v Riverside, Whittlesey Athletic Res v Wittering.

Tuesday, August 16

EVO-STIK LEAGUE

Division One South: Rugby Town v Stamford, Spalding United v Carlton Town.

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Premier Division: Eynesbury Rovers v Yaxley, Peterborough Sports v Harrowby United, Wisbech Town v Deeping Rangers.

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH LEAGUE

Premier Division: AFC Stanground Sports v Netherton United, Leverington Sports v Crowland Town, Moulton Harrox v Pinchbeck United, ICA Sports v Ketton, Stilton United v Sawtry, Uppingham Town v Stamford Lions.

Division One: Baston v Glinton & Northborough, Kings Cliffe v Wittering, Peterborough Polonia FC v Warboys Town.

Wednesday, August 16

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Premier Division: Boston Town v Peterborough Northern Star, Holbeach United v Sleaford Town, Huntingdon Town v Newport Pagnell Town.

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH LEAGUE

Premier Division: Peterborough Sports Res v Thorney, Wisbech Town Res v Holbeach Res.

Division One: Sutton Bridge United v Spalding United Res, Whittlesey Athletic Res v Netherton United Res, Oakham Res v Stamford Belvedere.

The Peterborough Sunday Morning League Charity Shield match will take place between Bretton North End and Cardea on Sunday, August 28 at Chestnut Avenue (10.30am kick off). It’s an annual match between the winners of Division One (Bretton North End) and the winners of the Hereward Cup, which last season were Premiair, but as they are no longer members of the league, losing finalists Cardea will take their place.