LOCAL FOOTBALL: Lodge honours a promise as Whittlesey win promotion
Lodge took over the club three seasons ago and promised his chairman he’d win promotion by the end of the 2015-16 campaign. That promise was honoured on an emotional night at Feldale Field as Whittlesey confirmed second spot in the Peterborough Premier Division with a 3-0 win over Peterborough Sports at Feldale Field.
“At the end of the game I walked over to the chairman, shook his hand and reminded him of what I said when I took the job,” Lodge stated. “He knew what I was going to say and we are both delighted we managed to pull it off.
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Hide Ad“It’s a long, hard slog in a tough division, but my lads have been outstanding for virtually all the season. There was an occassonal low point, but we never lost sight of the ultimate goal which was UCL football.
“It took us a while to get going last night and it’s a relief to finally get over the line. I’m thrilled I can start looking forward now rather than back.
“It’s been a phenomenal finish to the season by the lads. They really picked things up and performed when it mattered most. We’ve scored 40 goals in our last 11 matches, lost only one of them and conceded just three goals. “We’ve only conceded 17 goals in 33 league games all season which is unheard of at this level of football.”
Joe Butterworth got the party started with a superb free -kick strike on the hour last night. He quickly lobbed a second goal before Adam Piergianni complted the scoring late on.
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Hide AdWhittlesey will seek to complete a superb season by winning the PFA Senior Cup Final against Premier Division rivals Langtoft United at the ABAX Stadium on Thursday, May 19. They finish their league programme at Uppingham on Saturday (May 14).
Lodge has already started planning for next season by appointing former Posh player Daniel French to the post of assistant manager.
Premier Division champions Moulton Harrox tackle third place finishers Pinchbeck United in the final of the President’s Shield at Stamford AFC’s Zeeco Stadium on Friday (May 13, 7.30pm)
RESULTS
Monday, May 9
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH LEAGUE
Premier Division
Holbeach Utd Res 2 (Chappell, Deykin)
Sawtry 0
Tuesday, May 10
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH LEAGUE
Premier Division
Ketton 3
Thorney 1
Whittlesey Athletic 3 (Butterworth 2, Piergianni)
Peterborough Sports Res 0
Division Two
Pinchbeck United Res 4 (Leggett 4)
Leverington Sports Res 0
Division Five
Leverington Sports A 2 (McKenna 2)
Limetree UTR (S. Calvo, Ward)
FIXTURES
Wednesday, May 11
Hinchingbrooke Cup Final
Peterborough Sports v Peterborough Northern Star (7.45pm, Huntingdon Town FC).
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH LEAGUE
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Hide AdPremier Division: Leverington Sports v Langtoft United (6.30pm), Netherton United v Sawtry (8.05).
Division Two (6.30pm): Parkway Eagles v Ketton Res, Whittlesey Athletic ‘A’ v Spalding Town.
Division Four (6.30pm): Tydd St Mary Res v Long Sutton Athletic Res.