HOCKEY: City of Peterborough 1, Beeston 5: Pride in Peterborough, but no final place for City

In the end the gulf in class was too great, but City of Peterborough can be proud of their English Hockey cup exploits this season.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Mar 2016, 08:01 BST
Updated 21st Mar 2016, 08:02 BST
City of Peterborough goalkeeper Cameron Goodey and defender James Fisher (red) cleared the ball during the HA Cup semi-final with Beeston. Photo: David Lowndes.City of Peterborough goalkeeper Cameron Goodey and defender James Fisher (red) cleared the ball during the HA Cup semi-final with Beeston. Photo: David Lowndes.
City of Peterborough goalkeeper Cameron Goodey and defender James Fisher (red) cleared the ball during the HA Cup semi-final with Beeston. Photo: David Lowndes.

A first-ever semi-final appearance in the FA Cup of hockey was always likely to be as far as it went, especially as East Premier Division side City found themselves in the draw with three leading National League teams.

City were handed the most illustrious of opponents in Beeston and the Premier Division outfit - that’s two divisions above City’s normal standard - put on a clinic of patient passing and control of the ball at Bretton Gate yesterday (March 20) in front of several hundred enthralled spectators.

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It was 1-0 at half-time after the visitors struck from their third short corner of the game in the 21st minute and another set-piece followed by a smartly taken close-range strike at goal killed the game off as a contest early in the second-half.

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City of Peterborough skipper Ross Booth (red, armband) tries to steer his way through the Beeston defence. Photo: David Lowndes.City of Peterborough skipper Ross Booth (red, armband) tries to steer his way through the Beeston defence. Photo: David Lowndes.
City of Peterborough skipper Ross Booth (red, armband) tries to steer his way through the Beeston defence. Photo: David Lowndes.

Beeston, who showed off their amazing strangth in depth by fielding a very young side, added two more goals before City grabbed a late consolation through Aussie Robbie Muir and straight after the visitors had been reduced to 10 men for a tough tackling offence.

It was rare excursion into the Beeston ‘D’ by City, but the hosts fought hard and defended with great spirit.

Young goalkeeper Cameron Goodey made a couple of terrific stops before the break when he was generally well protected by the likes of James Fisher, Adam Drake and Sam Anderson.

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Captain Ross Booth enjoyed some fine midfield runs, but Beeston’s defensive strength and organisation was too much for City’s forward players.

Joe Finding of City of Peterborough passes the ball out of defence while under pressure from a Beeston opponent. Photo: David Lowndes.Joe Finding of City of Peterborough passes the ball out of defence while under pressure from a Beeston opponent. Photo: David Lowndes.
Joe Finding of City of Peterborough passes the ball out of defence while under pressure from a Beeston opponent. Photo: David Lowndes.

City completed their East Premier A Division programme with a 4-1 win at Bedford on Saturday (March 19) to seal a creditable second-placed finish, eight points behind champions Wapping.

Ben Read, man-of-the-match Sam Anderson, Ross Ambler and Joe Finding scored the City goals.

Bourne Deeping lost their English Hockey Trophy semi-final 5-2 at home to a slick Guernsey side at Arthur Mellows Village College. A report will be posted online today (March 21).

Related topics:BeestonPeterborough