Depleted Peterborough Sports were so close to an upset win in the National League North
There was deep frustration for Peterborough Sports who were within two minutes of claiming a brilliant National League North win at Curzon Ashton on Saturday.
A deliciously struck free-kick from Dion Sembie-Ferris 12 minutes from time looked set to give Sports victory at the team who started the day in second-place, and that feeling strengthened when home substitute Mike Afuye was shown a second yellow card just five minutes after his first.
But Curzon rallied and Adam Barton equalised in the 88th minute with a neat header, a goal the title chasers felt was the least they deserved, although depleted Sports should also be pleased with the point. They again named two goalkeepers on the substitutes bench thanks to a lengthening injury list.
The hosts pressed hard in the first-half and former Peterborough United winger Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, Stefan Mols and Jimmy Spencer all came close to scoring in the opening 20 minutes. Isaac Sinclair then hit the post for Curzon two minutes before the break.
The second-half saw fewer chances until Sembie-Ferris delivered the best quality moment of the game. Unfortunately for the city side he didn’t have the last word. Sports remain 17th in the table, but Curzon Ashton have dropped a place to third.
Sports now turn their attention to cups with a Northants Hillier Senior Cup first round tie against Posh U21s at PIMS Park on Tuesday (September 24, 7.45pm) and an FA Cup third qualifying round FA Cup tie at Royston Town next Saturday (September 28)
Curzon Ashton: Jones, Richards, Poscha, Matthews, Hayhurst, Sinclair, Barton, Griffiths (sub Darby), Buckley-Ricketts (sub Afuye), Mols (sub Mahon), Spencer.
Sports: Crook, Tootle. Fox, Kamson-Kamara, Gash, Lawlor, Alban-Jones, Van Lier, Jarvis, Sembie-Ferris, Gyasi. Subs: Jones, Goodman, Fryatt, Steele, Elsom.