Gareth Andrew’s hat-trick helped to deliver a first win of the National East Conference season for City of Peterborough at Bretton Gate today (October 21).
But anyone who only watched the first 20 minutes of the contest between two teams without a win would be blinking in disbelief at the final scoreline. Indian Gymkhana were so dominant in the early stages it only seemed a matter of time before they took the lead.
They certainly had the chances, most notably a 15th-minute penalty stroke awarded for a foul by Joe Finding, but one of the worst flicks ever seen was easily saved by City ‘keeper Chris Vine.
Vine was outstanding at other times as City clung on to parity, but the game changed on a two-goal burst in two minutes. Andrew scored from close range and Alex Armstrong netted from the edge of the ‘D’, and when Andrew Appleton diverted a shot from his brother David into the roof of the net five minutes before the
break City had some valuable breathing space.
The visitors kept pressing and received an immediate boost at the start of the second half when converting a short corner, but Andrew’s superb reverse stick finish restored the three-goal advantage within five minutes and it was comfortable from then on.
Well it was for the players at least. The umpires had to deal with some irritable Indian Gymkhana players and there was a steady stream of visitors to the sin bin. There was also a rare red card presumably for dissent.
Andrew ignored the carnage to complete a hat-trick from close range before Gymkhana grabbed a late consolation. Marcus Howard was denied a further City goal by some excellent ‘keeping.
The sides now swap places at the bottom of the table. Only one team is definitely relegated.
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