LOCAL FOOTBALL: It's just the beginning for Bretton North End

Bretton North End before their draw with Baston. (back row, left to right): Joe Duffy, Liam Reynolds, Danny Wilder, Kane Gilbert, Paul Passero, Ben Lawrence, Daniel Woodward, Kyle Orange, Harry Woodward, Conor Pridmore. (front) Ricky Rosario, Fernand Bass, Harley Williams, John Danskin, Paul Kelly, Robbie Osker and Dylan Horn. Photo: David Lowndes.

The city club is on a three-pronged pursuit for honours in Saturday and Sunday football this season to the delight of long-serving player/manager Joe Duffy.

Duffy’s Peterborough Sunday Morning side are on the verge of completing a rise from the bottom of the second tier to the Division One title in three seasons.

Bretton’s reserve team still have a shout of top spot in Division Four, while the club’s Peterborough League Division Three outfit are top of the tree with just four games to play. They are set fair for a third straight promotion in that competition.

Action fron Bretton North End Reserves (blue) v George, Oundle. Photo: David Lowndes.

“It’s been a great season so far,” Duffy stated. “But we want to cap it with a couple of trophies.

“I’m really pleased with my Sunday side as we were really struggling a couple of seasons ago. But we won a title in my first season and now we are favourites to win Division One this season. We are also in the Hereward Cup semi-finals after reaching the PFA Sunday Cup Final last season and losing on penalties.

“We would have won the elague last weekend if we’d beaten Baston, but they fielded the best team I’ve seen all season including Mark Jones who normally plays for Boston!

“We drew which ought to be good enough, but if players of Mark’s quality are playing in the league it shows Sunday football is not as dead as some people think.

“People go on about Sunday morning being weak these days, but, although there aren’t many teams in the top division, there are still some very good players turning out.

“That’s why I believe winning the title would still a big achievement for us and one I’d hope to repeat.

“The reserves are going great as well. They don’t have star players, but they have a great tream spirit.

“Division Three on a Saturday is very competitive. We’ve built up some great rivalries over the years.

“We have some tough games left, including a big one against Stanground, who have some top young players in their side.

“As we’ve come up through the league, the same teams have come up with us like Stanground, Eye, Thorpe Wood Rangers and Tydd St Mary’s. We know each other so well the games are usually tight, but we signed Kyle Orange recently and he’s made a big difference.”

Orange scored a hat-trick in Bretton’s 3-1 Peterborough League win at Farcet last Saturday (March 19) and a goal in Sunday’s (March 20) 3-3 draw with Baston. Harley Williams and Danny Wilder also scored against Baston for whom Jones scored twice.

Baston can still pip Bretton to the title, but will need to win by huge scores against Stanground (March 27) and Parkway in their final two matches to have a chance. Bretton have finished their fixtures, but are expected to receive an extra three points following a recent late postponement by Parkway.

Bretton’s Division Three title hopes also received a boost last weekend when Stanground were beaten 3-1 at Stamford Lions Reserves. Bretton should maintain their lead at the top with a win at Baston Reserves today (March 26, 2pm).

Bretton’s Sunday reserve team let a goal in for the first time in seven matches last weekend, but still pipped George, Oundle 2-1 with goals from Zak Marsden and Diminic Di Rienzio. Bretton are third in the table, five points behind leaders Cardea Reserves.