NON-LEAGUE: Sizzling cup final to come, Cotton finishes top scorer

The United Counties League Cup final tomorrow (May 2) looks like being a sizzling affair.
Jezz Goldson-Williams scores for Peterborough Northern Star at Sileby. Photo: Tim Gates.Jezz Goldson-Williams scores for Peterborough Northern Star at Sileby. Photo: Tim Gates.
Jezz Goldson-Williams scores for Peterborough Northern Star at Sileby. Photo: Tim Gates.

Premier Division side Holbeach United tackle Division One champions Peterborough Sports at Deeping Rangers’ Outgang Road (3pm kick off) and both teams go into the game in good spirits.

Holbeach snapped a seven-match losing streak with a 4-0 Premier Division thumping of Kirby Muxloe at Carter’s Park yesterday (9April 30), while Sports completed their league campaign with a 33rd win from 36 games at bottom club Burton Park Wanderers.

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Sports took it easy as they prepare to bid for a third trophy of the season, but they finished 21 points clear at the top of the table with 99 points and a goal difference of plus 116! They also won the Northants Junior Cup last week.

Craig Smith scores for Peterborough Northern Star at Sileby. Photo: Tim Gates.Craig Smith scores for Peterborough Northern Star at Sileby. Photo: Tim Gates.
Craig Smith scores for Peterborough Northern Star at Sileby. Photo: Tim Gates.

“We are taking no notice of Holbeach’s poor run of form lately,” Sports manager Jimmy Dean insisted. “They will be up for the cup final and I would guess all their big players will be available. I have great confidence in my squad though and we go into the game in good spirits.
“We have more gears to find and we will need to find them against Holbeach who will be tough opponents.”

But Holbeach insist they are the real underdogs tomorrow.

Manager Tom Roberts said: “We know a lot about Peterborough Sports and they have done very well this season. They like to get the ball forward quickly to the front men or wingers. So we will need to be at our best to stop them scoring.

“We have proved in one-off big games that we can step up, but we know we are going to be the underdogs on form.

Craig Smith scores for Peterborough Northern Star at Sileby. Photo: Tim Gates.Craig Smith scores for Peterborough Northern Star at Sileby. Photo: Tim Gates.
Craig Smith scores for Peterborough Northern Star at Sileby. Photo: Tim Gates.
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“We have got nothing to lose. I’d have to say they are the favourites because they have some fantastic players who are capable of being at Step Four or even higher.

“Sports have aspirations as a club of playing at a higher level so it’s going to be a good test.”

Former Posh youngster Dan Lawlor scored the only goal of the game for Sports in the second half at Burton Park.

Jake Clitheroe (2), Aaron Eyett and Stacy Cartwright scored the goals for Holbeach who, despite their recent woes, will finish fourth in the Premier Division if they win their final league match at home to Wisbech on Wednesday (May 4). The original match was abandoned at half-time last Thursday (April 28) with Holbeach leading 1-0 through a Josh Ford goal.

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Wisbech will also finish fourth if they win. The Fenmen despatched Oadby 5-3 at Fenland Park yesterday with goals from Stuart Cobb, Michael Frew, Adam Millson, Billy Smith and Matt Sparrow.

Yaxley’s season finished with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Cogenhoe, but there was consolation for Dan Cotton who struck his 39th goal of the campaign from the penalty spot. That was enough for him to finish top scorer in the Premier Division.

Deeping Rangers’ poor end to the season continued with a goal-less home draw with Desborough Town, while Peterborough Northern Star went down 3-2 at Sileby Rangers despite goals from Jezz Goldson-Williams and Craig Smith putting them 2-1 ahead.

Deeping finish 10th with Yaxley 12th and Star a disappointing 16th.

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Huntingdon finished bottom with eight points (two wins, two draws, 38 defeats, a goal difference of -147), 21 points behind the rest. Ben Colmer scored a consolation goal in a 3-1 final day defeat at home to Rothwell Corinthians.

Bourne claimed a creditable fifth place finish in Division One by beating close rivals Long Buckby 2-0 at the Abbey Lawns. Jack Humphries and Zak Munton, with his 25th goal of the season, scored.

Addie Staffieri scored twice as Blackstones ended their league season on a winning note, 3-1 against Bugbrooke St Michaels. Dan Evans was also on target for Stones who finished ninth.

Blackstones now have a Lincs Senior Trophy final against Winterton Rangers to look forward to on Tuesday (May 3). The game will be played at Lincoln City’s Sincil Bank ground (7.45pm kick off).

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March Town United ended their Thurlow Nunn Division One season with a 2-1 home win over Debenham LC at the GER. Ondre Odain and Dan Woods scored. March finished 11th in a 19-team league.

RESULTS

Saturday, April 30

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Premier Division

Cogenhoe United 2

Yaxley 1 (Cotton)

Deeping Rangers 0

Desborough Town 0

Holbeach United 4 (Clitheroe 2, Eyett, Cartwright)

Kirby Muxloe 0

Huntingdon Town 1 (Colmer)

Rothwell Corinthians 3

Northampton Sileby Rangers 3

Peterborough Northern Star 2 (Goldson-Williams, Smith)

Wisbech Town 5 (Cobb, Smith, Frew, Sparrow, Millson)

Oadby Town 3

Division One:

Blackstones 3 (Staffieri 2, Evans) 3

Bugbrooke St Michaels 1

Bourne Town 2 (Humphries, Munton)

Long Buckby 0

Burton Park Wanderers 0

Peterborough Sports 1 (Lawlor)

THURLOW NUNN EASTERN LEAGUE

Division One

March Town 2 (Odain, Woods)

Debenham LC 1