Being able to play again means 'everything' to Peterborough Sports boss Jimmy

Peterborough Sports are set to be back in action on Saturday, much to the delight of manager Jimmy Dean.

While the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central campaign remains on hold for the time being, Sports’ Buildbase FA Trophy hopes remain alive and well after a fine 5-1 victory at league rivals AFC Rushden & Diamonds on Tuesday night.

The draw for the second and third rounds were made on Wednesday with Sports being handed a trip to Hitchin Town, which is now set to be played on Saturday with the winners then going on to host either Basford United or Felixstowe in the third round a week on Saturday (December 19).

And with any potential restart in the league looking a fair way off at the moment, boss Dean is just delighted to still have games to play.

“To me, it’s everything,” the Sports manager said.

“I have made no secret about it, I want to play football.

“I understand why we can’t but I want to play and the win on Tuesday gives us another chance to do that. I am over the moon about it.”

It was a highly-impressive performance and result for Sports at Hayden Road as they battled it out with Diamonds on a pitch which deteriorated badly in the wet conditions.

Dean paid tribute to the opponents for getting the game on just a couple of days after they’d had to postpone a friendly against Kempston Rovers.

And the Sports boss admitted he was “proud” of the effort his players put in as they returned to action in emphatic style thanks to two goals from Maniche Sani, one each from Dion Sembie-Ferris and Jordan Nicholson and an own-goal.

“There was a bit of stick given to Diamonds last season when our game was called off there,” Dean said.

“But I need to go on record and say they deserve a lot of credit for playing that on Tuesday, especially as they hadn’t played any friendlies.

“The truth is, they could have called it off but they deserve credit for getting the game on.

“The last few goals we have given away have been really bad. We have been playing some brilliant football and been 2-0 or 3-0 up and then we give a silly goal away and the flow of the game changes.

“But we have shown the boys videos and we have just said to the boys that there’s no point doing it at one end if we’re not going to care at the other.

“And what we saw towards the end with blocks being put in even when we were 5-1 up, that’s what you want to be associated with.

“It was the difference and I am really proud the boys gave me that after four a five weeks without a competitive game.”