FA Trophy disappointment for Peterborough Sports and Stamford AFC, but upset win for Bourne Town
Peterborough Sports made a disappointing exit from the FA Trophy at PIMS Park on Saturday, but there was a stunning win for Bourne Town at higher level opposition.
Sports went down 3-1 to fellow Southern Premier Division Central side Banbury United, while Alvechurch Town of the same division were beaten 2-1 at home to Bourne, who play one level lower, in third qualifying round ties.
At PIMS Park, the visitors started brightly and had the opportunity to open the scoring early on as Tom Jackson rushed out of his goal. AJ George dribbled around him and fired at goal, but Joe Burgess recovered to block his effort writes Lauren Shiels. But Banbury broke the deadlock from the subsequent corner as Jacob Scott nodded in from inside the six-yard box.
‘The Puritans' continued to create chances with for Sports former midfielder Josh Cavallo advancing from the back and firing straight at Jackson before George dragged his effort wide from the edge of the box.
Michael Richens headed Lewis Hilliard’s corner towards goal, but Jack Harding denied with a save on the line before Jackson did well to get an outstretched foot to Gus Sanches’ low effort.
Opportunities continued with Sports ‘scoring’ from Lewis Hilliard’s corner on the half hour mark, but the linesman flagged for offside and Jackson denied the visitors a second in first-half stoppage time as Gus Sanches struck at goal.
Peterborough Sports regrouped in the second-half and found the equaliser on 54 minutes as a fine delivery into the box from Connor Wood was headed home by Ben Beresford.
‘The Turbines’ now had the momentum and a free-kick from Hilliard was headed narrowly wide by Leon Lobjoit.
But Banbury retook the lead on 66 minutes as George was played in space on the left and he guided a shot from an acute angle home.
And the visitors sealed victory on the breakaway in added time when substitute Ben Nash ran through on goal before calmly slotting past Jackson.
Turbines: Jackson, Wood, Cooke, Green, Burgess (sub White, 75 mins), Richens, Hilliard (sub Brown, 73 mins), Miller, O'Boyle (sub Williams, 49 mins), Lobjoit, Beresford. Unused Subs: Vince, Frew.
Bourne reached the first round proper with a win at Alvechurch, a side in fourth place in the division above and one boasting a a perfect home record.
Josh Burrows, brother of former Posh star Harrison, slotted home his first goal for ‘The Wakes’ to open the scoring on 29 minutes, but the hosts equalised four minutes into the second half.
Bourne goalkeeper Will Lakin made some big saves before Zak Allen pounced on a defensive error to win the tie 11 minutes from time. The first round proper draw is on Monday.
Stamford AFC also bowed out. They led at half-time through Kobe Sinclair-Linton, but lower level Loughborough Students fought back to win 2-1. Former Posh player Tyler Young, son of old England player Ashley, made his debut for ‘The Daniels’ who have also signed former Peterborough Sports pair Mark Jones and Dan Lawlor.